Are eastern Konyaks not human beings? asks Eastern Konyak Union

Dimapur, March 28 (EMN): The Eastern Konyak Union (EKU) has stated in a press release that the eastern Konyak public is having a hard time, not getting essential food items like rice since February due to the lockdown imposed in India for containing the Convid-19 outbreak and the tension caused by the joint military operations of the Indian army and Myanmar army in the region.

A statement issued by the president and secretary of Eastern Konyak Union (Myanmar) claimed that at a time when the villagers are filled with tension due to the coronavirus outbreak, Myanmar army has been deployed “in every Konyak village” day and night, unnecessarily checking the houses of innocent people and creating fear psychosis among the people.

Stating that both India and Myanmar are democratic countries, the union has asked why they have resorted to such military activities when people, armed forces and organisations in other parts of the world are sacrificing to save lives. Are eastern Konyak people not human beings? it asked.

The union has appealed to the Indian and Myanmar governments to stop their military activities in the region. ‘Public house is not the underground nest (sic); we don’t want to hear any gun sounds in the midst of coronavirus disease,’ the press release read.

While requesting both the parties to let the public live a peaceful life, the union said the Indian and Myanmar governments should bring “peace, medical facility, communication and education” to the region instead of military operations.

The union has also sought the help of Naga NGOs and human rights activists to look into the suffering faced by the eastern Konyak people on humanitarian ground.

ENSA condemns army deployment

The Eastern Naga Students’ Association (ENSA) has strongly condemned the deployment of Myanmar army in the Naga Self-Administration Zone for operation.

Through a press release issued by its president and general secretary, ENSA stated that it had learned from sources about ‘the Myanmar army are camping at jhum cultivation field in Chen area of eastern Konyak area bordering India, supposedly for a joint operation with the Indian army’.

‘It is also learnt that the Burmese (Myanmar) army personnel are carrying out door-to-door raids at civilians homes in search of NSCN cadres which has put the innocent public in psychological trauma,’ the press release read.

‘This is totally against the International Human Right. Instead of providing necessary help; basic needs to the general public living in the remote border areas during this time of global crisis (where people are) fighting against the deathly Covid-19, they are putting more burden upon the Naga public. Therefore the Eastern Naga Students’ Association (ENSA) appeals to the military forces to withdraw its troops on humanitarian ground to bring peace and tranquillity in the region,’ it added.