Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 13 2009:
Due to the failure of the state government 'to respect the sentiment of the people' and the resolute stand for review of state cabinet decision to deploy Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur police commandos, the Naga people under the aegis of its frontal civil societies called for 48-hour total bandh from 5 a.m of July 20 .
"The United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) arrived at the decision in a joint emergency meeting to pursue its resolute stand to democratically protest the state cabinet decision of May 19 to deploy IRB and Manipur police commandos in the hill districts of Manipur", said the frontal Naga civil organisations.
They expressed disgust at the attempt of the government of Manipur to deploy additional state and central armed police personnel in the hill districts and said that the intention of the state governmet is 'to terrorize the peace loving hill people' and accused the government of ignoring the assertion of the Naga people against 'state militarization policy' in memoranda submitted to the governor and chief minister of Manipur as well as other 'esteemed authorities' in New Delhi.
The bandh will exempt media, electricity, PHED, medical, fire-fighters and security forces, said the Naga organisations and appealed to the Naga people to come forward and co-operate " the call of the hour for the future of the Nagas".