July 1, Senapati Declaration of 2010 UNC sets the record straight
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 06 2011:
The Committee for Alternative Arrangement, which was constituted by the United Naga Council, has categorically stated they neither sought direction from anyone nor has anybody issued any instructions regarding their pursuit for an alternative administrative arrangements for the Nagas of Manipur.
The Nagas in the present State of Manipur had declared severance of all political ties with the Government of Manipur during the Naga Peoples' Convention held at Senapati (Tahamzam) July 1 last year.
"This declaration was based on the fact that it was impossible to protect our right to life, land, time-honoured institutions, customary practices and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur" said a press release jointly signed by Committee for Alternative Arrangement chairman Sword Vashum and member secretary of the committee L Adani.
|
Although the Naga inhabited areas were arbitrarily sliced off and annexed by the British in 1891 to Manipur, which was then allegedly only the Imphal valley, the Britishers, recognizing the distinctiveness and separateness of the Nagas, administered the Nagas and their lands through the Crown's political department.
Before India's independence, the Nagas were never subjected to the rule of the Maharaja of Manipur though Naga areas were arbitrarily transferred to the Maharaja of Manipur without consent of the Nagas, through acts of subterfuge and deception.
After India's independence, the story of the Nagas in Manipur has been one of complete marginalization, victimization, discrimination and Meitei domination.
The entire system of governance is conceived, designed and engineered towards systematic degradation and obliteration of Naga history, culture and identity, it alleged.
It is only in the indivisible common destiny that the history, identity and honour of the Nagas would be safe.
It is with this clear conviction that the Nagas in Manipur have embarked upon the historic mission to secure an alternative political and administrative arrangement independent of Meitei domination and subjugation.
"We the Nagas in Manipur who are compelled to seek for the alterative arrangement have no ulterior motive other than the firm conviction that all avenues for rapprochement for meaningful and peaceful coexistence have been exhausted and therefore the best way forward for the Nagas and the Meiteis is to part as good neighbours", it asserted.
The demand for alternative arrangement is for an emergency and interim intervention so as to accommodate immediate administrative needs without any prejudice to the legitimate political aspiration of the entire Naga family.
The NSCN (IM) has been seeking the integration of all Naga inhabited areas.