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Subject: [India Thinkers Net]North-East news - July10, 2005

From: "crbijoy" <crbijoy@indiatimes.com
Date: Sat Jul 9, 2005
Subject: NPMHR condemns killing of innocent by Manipur Government crbijoy Offline Send Message Edit Membership

Subject: NPMHR condemns killing of innocent by Manipur Government Date: Sat, 09 Jul 2005 22:11:22 +0550 From: naga peoples movement for human rights <npmhr1@...

Dear all, Following are recent developments in the call for peace and demands for unification of Naga homeland campaigns.

from NPMHR.
------------------------

Naga Peoples Movement for Human Right II Floor K. N. Sekhose Complex, Near Hotel Fira, Jail Colony Kohima,
797001 Nagaland tel: 91(0)370-2229356/57 e-mail: npmhr1@... website ???Вм" http// www.npmhr.org

Press Statement Dimapur, 9th July 2005

The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) condemns the killing of an innocent civilian and injuring of four others at Senapati on the 8th July 2005 by the Indian Reserve Battalion(IRB) personnel???Вм?Д?s under the orders of the Government of Manipur.

This sensitive event is a tragic fall out when the All Naga Students Association Manipur(ANSAM) has positively responded to the Government of Manipur initiative for dialogue for resolving the continuing crisis over the declaration of 18th June as state integrity day. NPMHR unequivocally oppose such unilateral and discriminatory attitude of the state government of Manipur declaring an anti Naga Peace event as its state integrity day and in failing to take a democratic approach of taking into confidence the different ethnic peoples while making such declaration at this crucial juncture of the Naga Peace process.

The Naga people in general consider the anti naga peace process agitations in 2001 in Imphal valley as severe encroachment on our inherent rights and popular sentiment while striving for a peaceful settlement to the more than five decades old Indo-Naga political conflict. Naga people in Manipur underwent a difficult phase of massive displacement as a result of impending threat of communal flare ups and suffered much estrangement from their normal lives due to the irrational imposition of dictates from vested interest in the dominant community who even went to the extend of denying and questioning the existence of Nagas under the imposed administration of Manipur state. Despite this, Nagas opened up space for peoples to peoples dialogue which has not been positively carried over by the Meitei community actors who failed to look beyond a statist framework, foreclosing any creative ways to strengthened relationships based on common interests.

NPMHR believes that the reunification of all Naga people and their ancestral lands into one political entity is a natural fundamental necessity and there is no power on earth who can suppress this basic birthright. NPMHR once again reassert our support to the ongoing democratic movement of Nagas in Manipur under the banner of ANSAM for justice and sustainable peace recognizing every people???Вм?Д?s right to determine their own future and just demand for democratization of decision making process.

NPMHR demands the immediate bookings and termination from service of those IRB personnels responsible for the killings and injuring of the innocent civilians at Senapati. If a government does not fulfill its obligation to protect and ensure the rights of its people under its care, it becomes legally responsible for its ultimate failure. NPMHR demands that the Government of Manipur should take immediate measures to initiate peaceful and constructive processes instead of resorting to threats and coercive measures which are against the spirits of justice and peace.

Nepuni Piku Secretariat NPMHR.
--------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE ALL NAGA STUDENTS?Д? ASSOCIATION, MANIPUR HQ. IMPHAL

PRESS STATEMENT Senapati: July 9, 2005

The All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) issue this statement to inform the general public in regard to the non cooperation movement launched against the state government of Manipur for the unending anti Naga attitude particularly heaping hurt on the Naga dignity by the declaration of 18th June as state integrity day which upholds the pinnacles of intolerance and violence of the dominant against the oppressed. This declaration without the participation and consent of the Hill Peoples is a direct and deliberate attack on the sentiments of the Hill peoples as Manipur is basically a Hill state and against the Naga peoples search for our peaceful unification of Naga homeland in particular.

Since the launching of the non-cooperation movement in the form of an economic blockade, ANSAM in particular has maintained restraint and has pursued its campaigns non-violently appealing to the conscience of people in the dominant positions and corridors of power. The Hill peoples waited with the hope that the Manipur state government will respond with an open mind to resolve the crisis through the revocation of the declaration of 18th June as State integrity day which was imposed on the Hill peoples in general and against the Naga struggle for peaceful settlement of the long yearning for unification of Naga homeland, artificially divided through imposed boundaries by the oppressors. ANSAM has also positively responded to call of the Chief Minister of Manipur for dialogue by making creative suggestion which was turned down by the powers who wishes to have so called talks with our campaigners agitating against the dehumanizing of our identity and dignity.

While the process of peaceful and democratic approach to this crisis was sought for by the Naga People under the administration of Manipur, the state has unleashed its arms of terror by brutally killing one innocent civilian and injuring four other innocent public on the
8th June 2005 in Senapati district. ANSAM condemn the killing and injuring of innocent civilians at Senapati by the IRB under the direction of the state administration. This adamant attitude of using coercion on a non-violent and democratic movement, against the will of the people will not be taken down lying. The violence against a peaceful agitation of the Hill Peoples by the state administration will therefore have its on consequences for which the State Government of Manipur will be wholly responsible. The threats, manipulation and repression used against the Hill peoples in the past to break their solidarity to subdue them have long past as we stand together today united for a purposeful future.

While extending our deepest condolences to the family of the innocent killed and wishing those injured speedy recovery, ANSAM looks forward to their continuing solidarity and participation towards realizing our ultimate goal of restoring dignity of our people through self-rule and unification of all Naga areas. ANSAM calls all struggling peoples and conscientious citizens of the region to condemn the annihilatory game plans of the Government of Manipur and stand alongside with the oppressed struggling peoples for their basic dignity and justice. We are committed to stand fast to fight for justice for the living through democratic means and to uphold our birthright to self- identification and direction of our own people???Вм?Д?s future.

(PAUL LANGHU) President All Naga Students???Вм?Д? Association, Manipur
----------------------------------------------------- Vines that won???Вм?Д?t bind ???Вм" Manipur State Integrity verses Naga Dignity

The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) issues this statement to inform and appeal the general Public to solicit their emphatic solidarity towards the cause of the current struggle for justice and Peace in the form of an economic blockade (First Phase) to the State of Manipur to demand for addressing the causes of injustice towards fulfilling the legitimate demands of the student???Вм?Д?s community in particular and the Naga people in General.

ANSAM demands the Government of Manipur to withdraw the declaration of
18th June as the ???Вм??state integrity day???Вм?Д? which is tantamount to glorifying violence and communal intolerance in a multiethnic state.

State Integrity day at the cost of Peace and Justice Nagas all across their homeland welcome the declaration of cease-fire between the GOI and Naga leadership in 1997 with the fervent hope that a political process will start in order to remove the chains of indignity and violence. However, in 2001 after the Indian Government agreed to extend the cease-fire and peace process without territorial limits, a certain vested communal agenda was hedge kicking up dust storm against the Naga process unmasking the anti Peace groups. The peace-loving Nagas living in Imphal valley were terrorize, harassed and threatened leading to a mass exodus of more than 50,000 innocent civilians to the Hills causing huge displacement, to avoid a communal carnage. The anti- Naga ceasefire forces vandalize the Public properties and raised a communal frenzy at the instigation of certain vested interests, claiming it to be a spontaneous mass uprising. Unfortunately, some youths were killed when the lopped sided state machinery tried to stablelize the security situation. The one sided projection of the issues by the bias media, partial attitude displayed by the administration and the orchestrated propaganda of distorted facts about the existence of Nagas in Manipur even to the point of denying our existence
(identity)have eroded the faith of the Naga people in particular on the existing state of Manipur. The expectation for an impartial and balance state treatment towards the concerns raised by the different communities who constitute to form the general will of the people on which the very existence of a state lay today is question by the Hill Peoples (Nagas & Kukis). The declaration of 18th June as the state integrity day has seriously hurt the sentiment of the Naga people. A violent communal movement for denial of the God given Naga identity has been re-christened as a state recognized sacred event to rub more salt into our open wound.

The continuing imposition of the dominant community dictates ignoring the consent of all section of society under the administration of Manipur state must be condemn by all. The right to consent of any community???Вм?Д?s future is a legitimate right and the denial of such right to consent under the garb of ???Вм??majority rules???Вм?Д? to decide the future of indigenous Hill Peoples is anathema to the democratic credentials of the country.

Cultural Imperialism The Nagas under the administration of Manipur state continued to maintain their unique culture and history and have withstood the cultural assault of the dominant Meities for the past century who through all fictitious means and through the might of the (Indian) state machinery tried to forcefully assimilate the Naga tribes through imposition of their languages and culture against the unwilling Naga masses including other hill people. Despite many of our traditional names have been willfully corrupted by the dominant community at their convenience and much of our sacred name of places and sites have been changed without our consent, which we do not recognise, on their craze to legitimize their forceful domination. All this were carried out not for peaceful co-existence but at the lust of unending greed of the dominant Meities community who even dare to call Nagas as expansionist when we assert our rights to dignity and identity.

Education in the Hill- a miscarriage Many of the Hill tribes have developed their indigenous language and tried introducing in the Primary and High school levels. However, the Government dilly delay policy for according recognition to these languages has deprive the tribes of their distinct cultural identity. The demand for a separate Department of Education for the Hill areas have fallen to the deaf ear of the state administration however, the recent establishment of a separate Directorate for Meitei Mayek have been a stark reality displaying the discriminatory attitude and policy of the Manipur state against the Hill Communities. The Hill students have been burdened in the past with compulsory study of Manipuri Bengali script and the latest incursion is the imposition of Meitei Mayek on the students???Вм?Д? community with the option of studying it in Roman script. The absolute control and censoring or clamped down by the state education department on the initiative taken by private institution applying for central Boards affiliation and other facilities for student welfare, are antithetical to the interest of the pursuit of excellence in the field of education.

Concentration of Development in the valley The Hill areas comprise 9/10th of the total state area however all developments funds have been centralized in the Meitei-centric Imphal valley at the sufferance of the Hill peoples. Many of the Development Funds meant for the Hill Tribes have been invested in the valley instead of the targeted areas. Development priorities should not be based on the head counts but on the disparity experienced. The Hill peoples have experienced a systematic manipulation and sabotaging of project when the intent is for the positive development interest of the Hill peoples.

Development Aggression in the Hills While progressive development have been hijacked for the valleys, destructive development and exploitative project have been imposed on the unwilling Hill peoples such as Tipaimukh High Dam, Mapithal Dam, Hundung Cement Factory, etc. whose consent were ignored while the state continue to manufacture consent on the basis of numerical proportion of the state ignoring the right of consent of the affected peoples. The state Biodiversity act has deliberately ignored the mandatory consultation process in the biodiversity rich areas which happens to fall in the Hill areas of Manipur.

Centralization of Administrative Power The Nagas are minority community under the current administration of Manipur state whose traditional lands cover the Hill areas districts such as Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong and some areas falling under other districts. Despite the existence of district heads all administrative work has been centralized and just a nominal semblance exists in the district headquarters where officials are deputed without authority. For instance a Deputy Commissioners in an autonomous district is empowered with the designation as head of cadres however in the Hill districts they have been divested of this authority and has been assigned just the responsibility as head of Department. The decentralization of political powers exists only on paper as the Manipur Hill District Council Act introduced in 1971 remains divested of executive power since 1988 making it totally dysfunctional.

Employment The systematic abuse and usurpation of all employment avenues and benefits rightfully belonging to the Hill Peoples and the pathetic marginalization cause thereof by the dominant community in all sectors of state employment facilities. Out of the total employment generated by the state of Manipur (80,000 approximately) Hill tribes are officially suppose to be accorded 26000 (33% appox.) but only 12000 employment have been appointed till date and the remaining 14,000 employee have been filled up by the general category which is a strong evidence of structural violence and discrimination.

Discrimination The continuing discriminatory and partial treatment in all sectors of the state life (health care, economy, culture, education natural resources, communication, etc) on the Hill peoples particularly the Nagas is vivid. The demand for partial removal of the AFSPA from the Imphal Municipal areas instead of total revocation of this extra- ordinary legislation from the state at the continuing sufferance of the Hill peoples, has shown that some are better and fuller citizens than the rests.

Manipur Land Revenue Act: An instrument of invasion The MLR&R Act- An instrument to forcefully alienate the rights of the Hill Peoples through alienation of their land and territories continues to be opposed by the Nagas and other Hill Peoples. We out rightly opposed such intrusion and reject the assertion of non- indigenous laws onto our land. States cannot unilaterally extend their jurisdiction over our lands and territories and demands that our traditional territorial boundaries and natural resources be respected in the interest of harmony and friendly relation amongst the different communities. Our traditional territories are inalienable and we assert our right to control and manage our resources within it and any threats to systematically transfer population into our territories will be defended head on. The forest areas in the Hills have been denudated and no effort have been taken to afforest or implement forest conservation, while the revenue collected by the Forest Department have been utilized by the central treasury. Supreme Court ruling to reinvest half of the District forests revenue towards regenerating the wasteland zone has been totally ignored for instance Ukhrul collected an amount of 16 lakhs in 2004 yet nothing has been done by the Department. We assert our right to choose the direction of our communities

A Clarion call to all Hill Peoples The Manipur Government has miserably failed all its constitutional responsibility to protect and safeguard the interest of the Hill communities particularly the Naga People. The Hill peoples or the so called Tribal in the state of Manipur have continued to be excluded in the decision making process while the benefits or development funds meant for the weaker sections have been embezzled and sieved off by the so called dominant higher civilized communities of the state. Its time for all the Hill communities to converge to stand for what is due to us ???Вм" our right to consent about the direction of our own future for the benefit of the generations yet to come. The TIME is Now or Never to stand up and fight for our dignity. Stand up and be counted. No borders or territories are sacrosanct except God. It is not the territory but the people who will ultimately determine the destiny of the people.

Enough is enough! We demand justice.

Publicity & Information wing, ANSAM.

"Violation of human rights in any part of the world is a threat to the human race as a whole and protection and promotion of human rights anywhere is a concern of all."

<< July10, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]Sukla Sen on London blasts,Imrana

July13, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net] In defence of reason,Indian left etc >>

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