PRESS STATEMENT ON 30th AUGUST RALLY IN NAGA DISTRICT HQs

Dated Tahamzam, 24th August, 2014

The social divide on communal lines between the Nagas and Meiteis that has become deeply entrenched in the present state of Manipur has been acknowledged with concern by none other than Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India in his address in the 40th conference of DGPs on 26th August, 2010.

There is a democratic process of dialogue at the tripartite level of the Government of Manipur(GoM), Government of India(GoI) and the Nagas of Manipur under the aegis of the UNC on the demand for an alternative arrangement outside the communal GoM pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue and it has logically progressed to a stage where a high powered committee would be set up by the GoI to translate the demand into a political reality. But the GoM under Mr Ibobi has intensified their communal policies and actions to legitimise the destruction of the traditional institutions and usurpation of the ancestral lands of the tribals and the Nagas through legislations, administrative orders & notifications.

I) The GoM has moved for establishment of “Village Development Committee” (VDC) in each village in the name of development. The VDCs are to be chosen by the general body of the village but without the involvement nor endorsement of the village council/village authority, the ultimate traditional authority of the village. Instead of strengthening the village council/village authority, a parallel body with development function is to be put in place to render the Chiefs, Khulakpas and Khunpus impotent and irrelevant . The village which is the primary polity of the tribals is being pushed into a conflict and division situation. This is a move to destroy the village republic system of the Nagas and the tribals.
Although Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act, 1960 (MLR&LR Act) is not applicable in the tribal area of the hills, the GoM after passing the bill for a Separate Revenue Directorate for the Hills in 2012, has notified for extending the jurisdiction of the Revenue Tribunal Manipur to Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur and the District Judge, Senapati has been appointed as the Presiding Officer, Revenue Tribunal Senapati. Every Naga and tribal village have their own distinct territorial boundary and jurisdiction. The tribals have their own way of life and to them the land and the people cannot be parted as their culture, tradition and identity are interwoven with the land. The constitution of Revenue tribunals in the tribal districts is a subtle move to get around the MLR&LR Act and legitimize the usurpation of the ancestral lands of the tribals.

The New Land Use Policy of Manipur (2014) (NLUP) based on the Mizoram model is being taken up by the GoM ostensibly to improve productivity and minimise demand on land resources. Mizoram has 100% tribal population and their experience therefore will be universal in terms of legal implication on ownership of land. In the state of Manipur, where 41 % of the population is tribal, who owns 90% of the geographical area of the state, the NLUP is just another ploy to dilute the land ownership of the tribal people. There are no Khas land in the Naga territory in Manipur. But the NLUP is roping in the Village Development Committees, the newly conceptualised instrument for abolishing the village republic system of the Nagas and the tribals and to encroach upon our lands.
120 tribal villages under Saikul Sub-division of Senapati District has been included by the GoM under various police stations of Imphal East District and Thoubal District, both of which are valley districts. Why can the tribal villages not continue under the original Police stations or if felt necessary, why cannot new police stations be opened up in the respective Districts? The communal GoM seeks to control the tribals and their land through its policing machinery by tagging the above villages to Police Stations of the Imphal valley districts and by diluting the distinct district boundaries.

There is clear intent to alienate the tribals from their traditional land and weaken their village republics by stealth and seemingly benevolent policies and administrative orders/notifications and to also deprive them of every opportunity. Free Prior Informed Consent of the tribals, the stakeholders are not obtained. It is an alarming situation where the tribals have to fight every steps of the way to political empowerment.

Mr Ibobi has gone one record to maintain that there are no Nagas in Manipur and no land belongs to Nagas. Our identity as a people and our ownership of our ancestral land has been denied by the Chief Minister of the state clearly disowning the Tribals and Nagas as citizens of the state.

II) Mr Ibobi has stated that he does not understand what the alternative arrangement means and in his Independence Day 2014 speech, as the first citizen of the state, he has declared that the alternative arrangement is a pipe dream. The GoM is a party to the tripartite talk on alternative arrangement which has seen seven rounds, the last of which was attended by political representatives of the GoM. In utter disrespect of the democratic process of dialogue he condemn the very process in which his Government is a party, while at the same time adopting a double standard posture saying that any issue can be discussed and resolved without resorting to agitation. Outrightly disrespectul of the democratic process of dialogue, GoM advocates dialogue to maintain the status quo of suppression and political disempowerment.

The Indo-Naga cease-fire is between 2 entities and without any pre-condition and has been entered into for creating the environment and space for an acceptable and honourable settlement. But Ibobi maintain that there is no Cease-fire in Manipur and under the pretext of law and order has militarised the Naga areas, particularly Ukhrul headquarters with the CrPC 144 in place for more than 40 days. This is at best, state sponsored terrorism. The Indo-Naga peace process issue is opposed with communal intent by the GoM, which is a state within the Union of India and is therefore anti-national.

In the non-“suspension of operation” and non “cease-fire” areas of the valley, normal life continues without militarisation by the GoM. But where there is “suspension of operation” and “cease-fire” in tribal areas there is militarisation. Mr Ibobi has on the floor of the state Assembly even welcomed the proposal of a referendum by a valley based outlawed militant organisation. Can any Government, which claims to represent the people, be more blatantly communal than this contrasting testimony.

There are no Nagas in Manipur. No to Indo-Naga cease-fire. No to political empowerment of tribals and Nagas. No to protection of ancestral lands of the Nagas and tribals. No to the constitutional rights of employment and educational opportunities of the Nagas and tribals, as borne out by the current reservation crisis in Manipur University, the highest temple of learning and wisdom. No to development of the tribal areas on the pretext of law and order and absence of land laws – this is the GoM’s policy towards the Nagas and tribal people.
In view of the above it has been decided to organise mass rallies in all the Naga district headquarters on the 30th August, 2014 at 11 AM and to focus the programme on the following assertions -

1) Demand from the GoI for expediting an acceptable and honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.
2) Protest against the militarisation of Naga areas particularly Ukhrul district by GoM with Manipur State forces in utter disrespect of the Indo-Naga cease-fire.
3) Protest against the GoM’s disrespect for the democratic process of tripartite talk on alternative arrangement which has progressed to a logical stage.
4) Protest against the unabated aggressive policies of the GoM to encroach upon the ancestral lands of the Nagas and tribals through Laws, Acts & Notifications to subvert the protective provisions of the MLR & LR Act, 1960.

A joint memorandum on the above points of demand and protests will be submitted by the Tribe Hohos and frontal organisation of the respective districts through the GoI agencies to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and also dispatched through post.

We appeal to all Churches, Christian leaders, Frontal & Regional Organisations, village chiefs and village council/authorities, students and youths leaders to take up the moral responsibilities for ensuring the maximum participation of the people in the rally.

We also advise our people to be vigilant against any attempt of the adversaries to discredit the peoples’ movement for our political aspirations by sabotaging the democratic civil action.
Publicity Wing
United Naga Council

Centre sets 10 days time to form high level committee for Alt Arrangement

New Delhi, Feb 23 (Vision Communications): The Centre is all set to constitute a high level committee in the next ten days-time with the mandate to study in details the demand for “Alternative Arrangements for the Nagas within Manipur” and recommend practical measures to settle the issue.

The demand was made by the United Naga Council of Manipur which has been asking for “executive, financial and judicial power” for the Nagas within Manipur as the UNC claimed “it is impossible to live and grow together with the communal government of Manipur.”

In an exclusive interview with the Vision Communications, MHA joint secretary Shambhu Singh observed, “forming a committee is not always very easy. One has to take UNC’s requirements into consideration. Also we have so many other tribal groups in Manipur. If we try to address issues pertaining to only one group, other groups will be bound to complain. We are in the process of consultation as to in what form this committee should be, so that one group’s solution does not become a problem for another group. It is a whole gamut of issues which is to be looked into.”

On the possible members of the proposed committee, Singh said that mainly economist, sociologist, people from some other discipline will be appointed as committee members to fulfil this important assignment.

This committee definitely will have some kind of political representation from Manipur. MHA will also include its representative in the proposed committee, Shambhu Singh added.

He confirmed that during his Imphal visit last week, he had discussed in details constitution of the proposed committee with the chief minister Ibobi Singh and others. After consultations with some other people, “we will announce the committee in the next ten days-time,” Singh disclosed.

Meanwhile a four-member delegation of the UNC headed by its president L Adani and general secretary Gaidon Kamei met the MHA joint secretary Shambhu Singh on February 20, in his chamber in the North Block and discussed the constitution of the proposed committee.

Later talking to Vision Communications, Adani expressed his satisfaction over the Centre’s initiative on the proposed formation of a high level committee to “translate our demand for an Alternative Arrangements for the Nagas within Manipur into a political reality.”

Adani further said that “during the seventh round of tripartite talks on February 6, UNC proposed to set up a committee to go into “our demand, suggest steps and subsequently execute it. The Centre has accepted our demand. The formation of a committee is a confirmation of the recognition of issues that we have raised. And if we are to be engaged in this process sincerely and seriously, definitely it will lead to a logical conclusion. We don’t want any cosmetic treatment.”

Adani further highlighted, “we are not communal and we are not against development. But we have certain issues and we want those to be resolved. Till such time, our agitational programme will be kept in abeyance.”

Manipur government, on the other hand, expressed its serious reservation over the demand for an “Alternative Arrangements” raised by the UNC. In the last round of tripartite meeting held in Senapati, Manipur Industry minister Govind Das who was leading the state government delegation voiced his concern and said, “We have 33 different tribes in the state. We can’t think a special arrangement for one particular tribe and sideline others. We have to take a holistic approach which our government is doing keeping the best interest of every group in mind. So let the Centre decide how to proceed over the issue.”

UNC submits Memorandum to Modi for Alternative Arrangement

MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO SHRI NARENDRA MODI, HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT & PRIME MINISTERIALCANDIDATE OF THE BHARATYA JANATA PARTY

DATED IMPHAL, FEBRUARY 8, 2014

Subject: DEMAND FOR ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENT OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR.

Hon’ble Sir,
While warmly welcoming your august visit to the State, the United Naga Council(UNC) wish to avail of this opportunity to make the following submission for your support and solidarity.

We are much concern that even after sixteen long years of cease-fire and negotiation, amidst assurance of an early solution, an honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga issue has not taken place till date. We urge your good self for kind intervention in the expeditious settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

We would also like to inform you that the Nagas in Manipur had submitted a memorandum to the Government of India(GoI) on the 14th of September, 2010 at Delhi to demand an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur(GoM), pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue(copy enclosed). Our demand is premised on the sharp social divide on communal lines in the present state of Manipur, which was inherent in the construction of the present state of Manipur and even prior to the merger of Manipur to the Indian Union and vitiated by decades of suppression, subjugation and hegemonic domination of the Nagas and tribals, who are unable to live with dignity and honour and have their land, traditional institutions, culture and way of life protected under the communal GoM.

The GoI had thus initiated the democratic process of dialogue through the tripartite talk of the GoI, GoM and the UNC and there has already been 7 rounds of talks, the last of which took place two days back is on the 6th February, 2014. We have postulated that an institutional authority with legislative, administrative and financial should administer the Nagas in Manipur directly under the Government of India (copy enclosed). It has since been agreed that an appropriate Committee will be instituted by the GoI to translate the postulates of our demand into a political reality.

Sir, we also seek your benign support and pro active role for ensuring that the dialogue process is carried forward to its logical conclusion.

Wishing you good health and every success in your illustrious career of leadership.

Yours faithfully,



(L. ADANI) (GAIDON KAMEI)
President General Secretary

UNC Press Statement on destruction of houses by Manipur Police

PRESS STATEMENT
Dated Tahamzam, 2nd October, 2013

The destruction of 4 houses in Silent Tangkhul village by the Police Commandos of the communal Government of Manipur(GoM) at around 6. 00 pm on 1st October, 2013 is most condemnable. The four houses were makeshift shelters of families whose houses had been burnt down on 3rd May, 2013 by communal forces. This time around it was the commando force of the GoM, which has taken over from the non state communal forces. This lawless act was carried out in spite of the presence and request for restraint of the IRBs, who had been stationed there in view of the law and order situation since the 3rd May, 2013 attack. While it is the bounden duty of a Government to protect the life and property of its citizens, irrespective of the community that they belong to, the GoM uses its force to destroy the shelters of citizens whose houses have been burnt down by communal forces.

What makes this incident significant is that it is not an isolated aberration. The reprehensible manner and force deployed in wiping out the Naga River Colony in Imphal on the pretext of making space for a 5 star hotel and the harassment, intimidation, damage to property of tribals in Poumai Colony -Laipham Khunou to stop them from constructing houses on land they have purchased on the pretext of protecting agricultural land in the heart of Imphal city are examples, and of which tribal areas are replete with, how the communal agenda are being pursued by both the state and non state actors of the Imphal valley.

It is all pervasive - legislations, acts and laws, force and violence are all being used to uproot tribals from their rightful places. On the other hand appeals are made from official and public platform unceasingly for peace co-existence among the communities. As per the GoM, Nagas and tribal must suffer “peacefully” while their constitutional rights, their land, their identity and democratic aspirations are being obliterated with brute force or subtle instruments. The much spoken of “social divide” stems from the unmistakeable fact that everything that makes for dignity and honour of the human person of the tribals is sought to be kept in the custody of the communal GoM and the dominant community which informs and influence its decision.

The tripartite dialogue process of the Nagas in Manipur, the Govt. of India and the GoM seeks to address this very issue of social divide and empowerment through an alternative arrangement outside the GoM. It is a democratic process and Nagas have been upholding it with due respect. But despite this, the GoM continues to use its machineries and force to usurp the land and rights of the Nagas and the tribals, disrespecting the process of peace and settlement. There is no desire nor attempt to respect the tribal and their democratic rights. Rather what will be allowed to the tribals is determined by the interest of the GoM, which ironically GoM claims to be that of the entire people of the State. Nagas and tribals will have to be ever vigilant and be in readiness to engage the communal designs of the adversary effectively.

Publicity Wing
United Naga Council

UNC calls 48 hours total bandh from Jun 16 to Jun 18

IMPHAL, Jun 9: As decided in their presidential council meeting held on June 3, UNC has called a 48 hour total bandh in Naga areas with effect from the midnight of 16th June and till midnight of June 18, 2013 to protest against the unabated ‘communal actions and policies of the GoM’ and the ‘communal forces in Imphal valley’ and to urge the Government of India to intervene immediately with an alternative arrangement.

The above decision was arrived at after considering the manner of response of the GoM and communal forces on many issues which emerged even after the direct attack on Christians and Tribals in Imphal valley in the wake of the reported assault on actress Momoko, the Napetpali assault and molestation and the murder of 2 Kongkan Tangkhul villagers – all during the last Christmas season.

A press statement issued by UNC said that 36 houses of Silent Tangkhul village were burnt down by neighbouring Saijang villagers and their supporters on May 3, 2013 and properties worth crores of rupees were reduced to cinders and hundreds of villagers rendered homeless.

The Cabinet of the GoM then stepped in and imposed 144 CrPC in the area where the burnt houses once stood by declaring the same as disputed area. Instead of booking the vandals and arsonists, the GoM acted against the law of the land and adopted a communal position, it alleged.

The GoM offered a communal response and refused to carry out its bounden duty in securing the safe return of Alice Kamei, a 14 year old tribal school girl who has been in the custody of the Revolutionary Peoples Front/Peoples Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) since March 10, 2013 stating that the minor joined the RPF on her own volition.

The eviction of 28 houses in Naga River Colony by the GoM on 20th May, 2013 left more than 100 school going children homeless and 3 Churches mowed down. The eviction of the bona fide residents of Naga River Colony was carried out on the pretext of construction of a 5 star hotel and systematically carried out by first propagating that the “patta” of the area were faulty and then issuing back dated eviction orders which did not allow the resident to salvage whatever is possible from their houses. Even standing Court ruling of maintaining status quo was not honoured.

Surrenderees cadres of the KYKL (MDF) have been lodged by the GoM with the 20th Assam Rifles at Chandel. Instead of bringing development to the hills, the GoM using the tribal areas as dumping ground for surrendered militant groups from the Imphal valley has been insulting the owners of the land. Organised protest has not resulted in any corrective measures from the GoM.

It said that the officer-in-Charge of Sugnu Police Station summoned the Chiefs of 12 tribal villages located in the foothills of Chandel district to come with land patta of their respective villages. The summons are obviously with a view to replicate what has been done in Naga River Colony so that by harassing the villagers and detecting some non-existent irregularity the village can be evicted by the GoM.

Maipethel Dam, under a mega 715.81 crore project has been sanctioned for construction in Chadong village, Ukhrul District without the free prior and informed consent of the tribal people who are to be dislodged from their homes and lands by the project. The affected villagers on protest were able to extract an understanding with the GoM to institute an Expert Review Committee so that proper environment impact assessments is duly undertaken and appropriate rehabilitation and resettlement package worked out before resumption of the project. But GoM dishonoured this understanding, violated all interna- tional norms and split up the villagers by engineering infighting. GoM then sent in the Manipur IRB to the pro-ject area to secure forcible completion of the project and placed the village Chadong area virtually under siege, dislocating the day to day life of the villagers. Fictitious list of names for payment of compensation was prepared by the GoM, insulting the genuine affected villagers and fomenting acrimony within the villagers.

The project is intended to feed Imphal valley with drinking water and uninterrupted power supply.

“But what about the affected tribal villagers, the targeted victims of the project ?” it questioned.

On 14th April, 2013 fifteen tribal students staying on rent in the house of one Manitombi Devi in Soibam Leikai, Khanglabung, Imphal were attacked by locals of Khanglabung Leirak. They were assaulted and their personal belongings vandalised. On 15th April, 2013 when community student leaders visited the house for enquiry they were also attacked with catapults, it alleged

In a bid to grab tribal lands attempt are being made to drag in tribal villages such as Khangshim, Kanemram & Ngourock under Machi Block Chandel into Kakching block under Thoubal district.

All these assaults and injustice were confirmed during the political tour in Naga areas carried out in April-May, 2013 to Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati district.

The sharp social divide on communal lines in the present State of Manipur engendered by the communal action and policies of the GoM and the communal forces in Imphal valley, of which few of the recent instances have been highlighted above, cries out for immediate intervention of the Government of India with an alternative arrangement outside GoM.

The 48 hours total bandh will cover the railway construction works. Medical services, fire-brigade, media, power and telecommunication departments will be exempted from the purview of the total bandh, it added.

~Sangai

UNC condemns 144 Cr PC along NH-53

Imphal, September 2 (NNN): The United Naga Council (UNC) sternly condemns the imposition of Section 144 Cr PC along National Highway-53 saying that it is the government of Manipur’s evil motive against peaceful bandh supporters. The UNC also said it condemns the ’intrusion of Thoubal police commandos' with evil intention and thrashing peaceful bandh supporters in Chandel district yesterday.
According to the UNC, about five bandh supporters were injured in yesterday's incident. Moresh Makunga who is the vice president of All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) D.K. Mothang, secretary art and culture of Maring Students Union (MSU), D. Mothilphun who is the treasurer of MSU and M. Moshil, publicity secretary of MSU were thrashed at Thamnapokpi yesterday by the police, alleged the UNC. "We have taken this as a serious matter," it noted.

Meanwhile, the UNC said the Nagas have traditional boundaries since time immemorial and therefore any "further division/bifurcation/carving out of Nagas’ land" for creating or upgrading new districts on the pretext of administrative or otherwise without the consent and knowledge of Nagas will never be tolerated.

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.