Zeliangrong raised strong objection to separate Kuki district

Dimapur, August 31: The Zeliangrong community of Assam, Manipur & Nagaland today had strongly objected the “Kuki demand for ‘Sadar-Hills District’” out from land traditionally held and owned by Nagas. The Zeliangrong Union addressed a representation to the chief minister of Manipur today cautioning that “we cannot tolerate the politics of conversion of our lands into Kuki district or Kukiland.”

The Zeliangrong Union questioned the demand by a community that had migrated from Twelpi of Chin-Hills of Burma, crossed over the southern border of Manipur and settled at ‘Mombi’ (on the south-east of Tengnoupal area), 165 years ago in 1845, during the reign of King Nara Singh of Manipur.
“As before, the Kukis has once again submitted a memorandum to the President of India, for a district of Sadar-Hills.  The Zeliangrong Nagas as well as other Naga groups of Manipur have always been against this Kuki demand for a Sadar-Hills District -- for the reason that the lands (areas) of Sadar-Hills originally belong to the Naga districts of Tamenglong, Senapati and Ukhrul and as such the areas should not be conceded for Kuki political interests which include their aspiration for a Kuki home-land and state,” the union said. Besides, the representation said, the “Kuki demand” will also affect the interest of the Meitei and the territorial integrity of Manipur state itself.
The union also elaborated on the background of the demand for a ‘Sadar-Hills district.’ “It is a historical fact that in Manipur the Nagas in the surrounding hills (including the Sadar-Hills) and the Meiteis in the valley are autochthonous people and have been  living there as owners of the land for thousands of years since time immemorial, even before the founding of Manipur kingdom by Pakhangba in 33 AD. So, how the Kukis who migrated from Burma (Myanmar) into Manipur in the recent history, could claim Sadar-Hills as their home district or home-land,” the union said.

The Zeliangrong Union also referred to the report “Chin Hills-Manipur Boundary Commission, 1894” where , the Kukis (Thadou Kukis), about 1500 in number, migrating from Twelpi of Chin-Hills of Burma, crossed over the southern border of Manipur and settled at ‘Mombi’ (on the south-east of Tengnoupal area), 165 years ago in 1845, during the reign of King Nara Singh of Manipur.
“The then British Political Agent in Manipur Major McCulloch allowed them to settle there on the condition that they (the Kukis) should serve as ‘sepoy villages’ to prevent other immigrants from Chin-Hills from across Manipur border,” the union said in its representation.
The Zeliangrong Union reiterated its demand for restoration of various parts of “Sadar areas” to their respective parent districts of Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Senapati. “This will be the right and lasting solution for the controversial Sadar-Hills issue. The Nagas can live peacefully with the Kukis, Nepalis and other communities of the said areas; but we cannot tolerate the politics of conversion of our lands into Kuki district or Kukiland,” the representation added.

Sadar Hills stir to continue

 

IMPHAL, Aug 30 : With the public once again endor-sing that the agitation should go on until the de-mand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a district status is rea-lised, the highway bloc- kade and general strike imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Co-mmittee is set to continue until the next meeting.

As in the previous public meeting, today's meeting held at Kangpokpi voted for continuing with the agitation until the district demand is met.

Today's meeting was the second following the appeals issued by the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister to call off the stir.

The three MLAs of Sadar Hills, Thangminlien Kip-gen, Haokholet Khongsai and Doukhomang Khong-sai along with the ADC members of Sadar Hills and former MP, Kim Gangte attended the meeting, where the public turned up in droves.

Apart from calling to go ahead with the agitation, those present termed the suggestions of the Chief Minister as another tactics to buy time and keep their demand in abeyance.

The decision to continue the agitation came despite the appeal from the three MLAs, the members of the ADC Sadar Hills and community leaders to suspend the agitation following the appeal from the State Government.

Flatly rejecting the suggestions of the State Government, the public, especially the women folk laid down the rider that they would suspend the stir provided the three MLAs and the members of the ADC assure that they will ensure the upgradation of Sadar Hills to a district within two months time.

With no meeting point established it was agreed that the same issue would be discussed at the next meeting scheduled for tomorrow at Saikul.

According to sources, the Saikul meeting is expected to be followed by another meeting of the three MLAs, the ADC members and social leaders to decide whether the agitation should be relaxed for some time or not.

Koutruk against inclusion of Sekmai in Sadar Hills

IMPHAL, Aug 28 : Where-as Haraothel village has claimed the ritual ground of Ibudhou Koubru as theirs, people of Koutruk took out a rally today protesting against any plan to include parts of Sekmai Assembly constituency in the proposed Sadar Hills district.

A letter written by Chairman of Haraothel Village Authority Hatpi Vaiphei and addressed to the Koutruk Lai Committee was delivered to a village of Koutruk on August 19.

As they venerated Ibudhou Koubru, people of Koutruk built a shrine and a roofed structure at the deity’s ritual ground at Haraothel hill.

But the Haraothel village chief’s letter claimed that the area where the shrine and the waiting shed were built belonged to them.

Hatpi Vaiphei also asked the Lai Committee to shift the shrine or demolish it without delay, failing which the Lai Committee should bear responsibility for any untoward incident.

Perturbed by the letter, Koutruk villagers held a meeting this morning and took out a protest rally.

The protest rally was also attended by people from Senjam Khunou, Senjam Chirang, Khurkhul (Leimakhong), Kangchup Chingkhong, Phayeng Chingkhong, Ka-dang-band and Tairenpokpi.

The protesters marched till the shrine of Ibudhou Koubru which was claimed by Haraothel and shouted slogans like “No land of Koutruk should be included in Sadar Hills”, “No area of Sekmai AC should be encompassed by Sadar Hills” etc.

Koutruk is a Scheduled Caste village located within Sekmai AC.

The neighbouring village of Haraothel is inhabited by Kukis and it is included under Sadar Hills.

Addressing the public meeting held earlier in the day, Koutruk Youth Development Club general se- cretary Ningthoujam Jiten said that as per land records of 1960, Haraothel hill belongs to Koutruk village.

The name of the hill was also coined by the forefathers of Koutruk village, he said.

Just three Khongsai households started settling in Haraothel with the permission of Koutruk elders during 1972-73.

Before them, one group of Nagas was also allowed to settle at the same place but they abandoned the place.

But in a blatant act of arrogance, the Haraothel village chief sent a letter recently claiming that the premises of Ibudhou Koubru was theirs.As the deity is most venerated by the surrounding people, the claim of Haraothel village chief infuriated not only Koutruk villagers but also people of the surrounding villages. The ritual ground/hill was given to Senjam Chirang, Senjam Khunou and Koutruk by an order issued by the Manipur State Durbar in 1926-27, Jiten added.

Noney rallies for securing Naga's land

IMPHAL, Aug 26 : Endor-sing the decision adopted by the United Naga Council (UNC) against inclusion of any land belonging to the Nagas in the creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts, a silent rally was taken out at Noney (Longmai) in Tamenglong district today.

The rally organised by the Joint Action Committee Against the Creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam Districts started from Noney Keithel.

The rally which was participated by hundreds of people including church leaders, public leaders and students returned to the starting point after reaching the gate of 10 Assam Rifles.

They protesters carried placards and banners which read “No consensus, No Sadar Hills”, “Honour the MoU signed with the Nagas”, “Not an inch of Naga territory for creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam” etc.

The silent rally was followed by a public meeting at Noney Keithel.

At the end of the meeting, convenor of the JAC Chamrei Kamei declared the resolutions of the meeting.

Chamrei Kamei declared that the Nagas and the Government of Manipur signed MoU’s in 1981, 1992, 1996 and 1998 to the effect that the issue of Sadar Hills would be  settled with the consensus of all the concerned people in the interest of bringing lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and Kukis.

However, the Government of Manipur has been working to carve out Nagas’ land, he alleged.

He further accused the State Government of throwing the bone of contention between the hill peoples with the objective of creating divisions and conflict between the hill communities.

The declaration strongly condemned the alleged divisive policy being pursued by the State Government.

Later speaking to media persons in the office of Noney Bazar Board, JAC convenor Chamrei Kamei clarified that they did not mean Sadar Hills and Jiribam should not be given district status under any circumstances.

Should Sadar Hills and Jiribam be upgraded to the status of full fledged districts, it should be done with the consent of Nagas and in the process not an inch of Nagas’ land should be affected.

If there is any need for tripartite talk to settle the issue involving those demanding districthood, the State Government and the Nagas, the Nagas would welcome it.

“We are hoping that the Government would invite us for joint meeting over the issue but no invitation has been forthcoming from the Government till date”, Chamrei said.

Rongmei Naga Council Manipur president Th Pamei said that the proposed Sadar Hills district covers 40 Naga villages.

“Regarding the demand for Jiribam district, we neither support it nor oppose it”, he said.

Nevertheless, creation of Jiribam district should not touch any land of Tamenglong district.

He also asked as to why the forests areas of Tousem sub-division, Tamenglong district are being kept under the jurisdiction of DFO Jiribam.

Saying that they would relax their agitation once the    bandh/blockades are lifted from Sadar Hills area, Th Pamei decried imposition of restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC along NH 53.

If the restrictions are not lifted at the earliest, untoward incidents may break out along the highway, he cautioned.