[Info-Bureau] Three Nagas shot to death by Manipur Police Commandosand Indian Reserved Battalions

A Naga International Support Center, NISC, www.nagalim.nl

A human rights organization 

Amsterdam, May 7 2009

Three Nagas shot to death by Manipur Police Commandos and Indian Reserved Battalions

Irrational Fear rules Manipur.

In banning Th. Muivah, secretary general of the Naga Socialist Council of Nagaland, from entering Manipur State, the Manipur Government has shown irrational fear. If not corrected by the Government of India the people of Manipur led by their state government’s chief Minister I. Ibobi Singh are being pitted against the Nagas. The email letter sent to NISC and attached hereunder speaks for itself, the haughtiness included. Demeaning Nagas when they pursue their quest for self determination, a right acknowledged by the International Community, is not the way to a peaceful solution which essentially is between the India and Nagaland.

 MIGHT does NOT make RIGHT; stop the killing immediately

 Mr. Ibobi Singh may we remind you that this conflict began long before Manipur State was founded? Where did you get the right to deny a man to go where he was born?

 The Naga International Support Center urges the Government of India to order the Manipur State Government call back its armed forces to ensure the Nagas, led by TH. Muivah of the NSCN with whom you are locked into peace talks to end this long term armed conflict, so random killing is stopped immediately.

If you, the Government of India, do not stop this state terrorism of Manipur not only do you not prevent Nagas to be killed, squander the birthright of Muivah but foremost your credibility will be too. �

 The Manipur Government has to be held accountable for all it is evoking; this includes murder and jeopardizing the peace talks.

 Mr. Ibobi Singh, as Chief Minister of Manipur State, it is against human rights to ban a Naga born in his village in Manipur and worse it is unique to prevent the man from coming home after decades to greet him with guns. Manipur should not be made into a battlefield, one which has primarily innocent people as victims.

The Naga International Support Center urges the Manipur State Government headed by Ibobi Singh to withdraw all Manipur Forces and clear the way for Muivah and entourage to go home. Call off your hounds for the repercussions could be more severe than you can imagine.

There is nothing to fear but fear itself

For more information www.nagalim.nl or write to nisc@nagalim.nl

 

This morning, as thousands of Nagas in Mao Gate marched towards the spot where more than 700 Manipur Police Commandos and Indian Reserved Battalions (a state paramilitary force) had blockaded the road preventing their leader, Mr. Th. Muivah, from coming to visit Naga areas in Manipur, the security forces opened fire on the crowd aside from tear-gassing them. More than 70 rounds of tear-gas were fired and there was continuous gunfire for more almost two hours. As of now, it is confirmed that 2 boys were shot dead at point blank range as they were hiding inside the community hall. They are Meli Chakho, a BA student studying in Bangalore, & Loshu pursuing PU in Jakhama College; both are from Kalinamai village in Senapati District. More than 60 individuals were injured, some are in critical condition.

Indian police fire on Naga protesters in Manipur By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Police have opened fire on a group of Naga tribespeople on the border between India's north-eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland, officials said. Police said 15 protesters had been injured, mostly during a stampede. A group representing the Nagas alleged that at least two Nagas had been killed in the police firing. The Nagas are angry that the Manipur government has barred Naga separatist rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah from entering the state. Mr Muivah, the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), is waiting at the village of Viswema near Nagaland's capital, Kohima, with a convoy of NSCN leaders and activists hoping to travel to his village in Manipur

The Manipur government has sought to stop Mr Muivah's visit to Manipur because it fears the visit may inflame Naga passions as the seperatist rebel leader is scheduled to address several rallies in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. The firing happened at Mao town, where Naga tribespeople had collected.

A photographer, Subhamoy Bhattacharjee, who is at the scene, says hundreds of Naga tribespeople have defied a curfew imposed on the border town. The police say they had to fire to restore order.

Mr Muivah's NSCN wants all the Naga areas of Manipur to be merged into the state of Nagaland - a demand that upsets Manipur's majority Meiteis and other tribes like the Kukis.

The group has been negotiating with the Indian government for 13 years to find a solution to the country's first ethnic insurrection.  The NSCN says it it is prepared to drop its demand for independence. But the rebel group continues to press for the creation of a greater Naga state by merging Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Dear Naga brethren,

We are confused on your claim of Nagalim. Your claim is motivated and encouraged by some Indian agencies from outside NE. It seems that you are not realizing the hidden agenda of "Divide & Rule" policy by Indian Govt.

Let's have a close look to your claim:

1. Is naga history older than Assam or Manipur? If yes, where is the evidence and proof?

2. Could you claim part of Delhi or Tamil Nadu etc. where nagas are settled? If you claim, do you know what would happen?

3. Are dreaming of a peaceful state to live after disturbing and creating unhappiness your neighbors? Do you think that we people in Assam and Manipur would sit/sleep quietly after so much of disturbances for so long?

4. The fact is, if you don't learn to live friendly, peacefully and co-existentially with your neighbours, the day would come for you to live like in hell.

5. How long would you disturb your neighbor states? Don't you know there is limit for everything which exist on earth. kindly remember that you are surrounded on east,west,south, north.

6. Please be practical in your approach. Whoever nagas want to live in Nagaland, they are free to go and live there,we support that. And whoever nagas want to live in Assam and Manipur,they could live as long as they accept themselves as part of the state.

7. Philippinos live in USA in millions since time immemorial, but they can't create/claim 2nd Philippines in USA. Hope you know why?

8. There are millions of Manipuris living in Bangladesh & Myanmar since time immemorial, do you think we can claim that part of that Bangladesh and Myanmar to be part of Manipur or 2nd Manipur? We would not dream of that b'coz we are not crazy people like you.

9. The point is: we can live wherever we want as long as we maintain the tranquility of that place/state, but we can not claim the place as our Nation or State. If we do arrogantly, that would craziest idea, inviting trouble ourselves.

Therefore, dear naga brethren, please wake up and realize the reality.

It's not time to fight among ourselves, it's time to face the dynamic world. World is moving too fast.We have to catch it up.

If we/you don't do it, the situation would become worse day-by-day eminently, we guarantee that.

Kindly & concisely leave the violence. It's 21st Century, Let's live together and respect each other like before. Look beyond the horizon and think 'out of box'.

We, NE people have miles to go/run to catch up the speed of the 21st century World.

Peace and development to NE.

A brother from Assam/Manipur,

Mr.Fuganba Peace Consortium for Assam & Manipur.Guwahati.