Our Correspondent
SENAPATI, FEBRUARY 5
The United Naga Council (UnC) sponsored 48 hours bandh began last night in all hill districts of Manipur in continuation to its previous demands and democratic movement. All the highways leading to Imphal were seen deserted since this morning. Till the time of filing this report there was no untoward incident in connection with the UNC bandh.
Meanwhile, the UNC said any movement and attempts to sabotage the final political settlement based on ‘unique history of the Nagas and its situation’ will never be compromised under any circumstances. It also said religious program, earthquake related activities, medical, electricity, water supply and media fraternity are exempted from the purview of 48 hours of total bandh.
According to the UNC, the Nagas and tribal people in the present state of Manipur were self-governed and self administered people. It also said a dual system of Administration for the hills and valley came into existence after the British annexed the Meitei kingdom in 1881.
“The tribal areas were administered by the political department of the British Crown. This duel system continued even after 1949 when the Meitei Kingdom was merged with the Indian Union along with tribal areas without their consent, through deception, and under protest of the Nagas and other tribal people. Since then the story of the Nagas and tribal people in Manipur has been one of the marginalization, victimization, discrimination and domination,” it also said. “The imposed system of governance have resulted systematic degradation and obliteration to our history, culture, identity and right to land and resources and finally, crucified the Nagas and tribal rights on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, 2015 by passing 3 anti tribal Bills and Resolution and consequent upon which 9 innocent civilians were killed by communal state security forces and whose bodies are still lying at the morgue of Civil Hospital, Churachandpur”, the UNC stated.
“The people of different origin and history cannot live together under force union. The approach for peaceful co-existence is exhausted and therefore the best way for the Nagas and the tribals is to part and live as a good neighbors so that Nagas and tribal people can live with dignity and honor as a people and a nation,” it added.
