KOHIMA:
Various groups and organisations in Nagaland and Manipur have decided to boycott Republic Day to protest against the killing of 14 civilians by the security forces in Mon district last December and the delay in the Naga peace process.
A slew of Naga organisations including Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), All Naga Students’ Association (ANSA), United Naga Council (UNC), and various other Naga organisations in Nagaland and Manipur, through separate statements on January 23 and 24, strongly criticised the Centre for delaying justice.
“The people of eastern Nagaland shall not participate in the forthcoming Republic Day celebration on January 26,” said the letters jointly signed by R Tsapikiu Sangtam, President, ENPO and C Manlang Phom, General Secretary, ENPO.
The organisations and groups are also strongly opposing the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and demanding repeal of the “draconian law”.
In separate letters sent to the various Naga organisations and tribal leaders in Nagaland, the ENPO, post a meeting with all Naga civil society organisations at Longleng on December 14 last year, had resolved that the public of eastern Nagaland shall extend non-co-operation to the Indian security forces until justice is delivered to the victims’ families.
“The non-cooperation shall be in the form of abstinence from any national celebrations, or such activities,” said the letters.
The UNC’s Manipur unit in a directive said that the instruction is issued in pursuance to the declaration of the UNC presidential council meeting, held last week at Tahamzam in Senapati district of Manipur that to demonstrate the people’s resentment against “delaying and frequent backtracking on the political settlement of historic Indo-Naga Framework agreement even after more than six years of signing”.
“The Naga people of Manipur would abstain from participation in the ensuing Republic Day celebration as a part of its non-cooperation movement. Therefore, Tribe Hohos, District Apex Organisations, Naga Frontal Organisations and Regional Organisations are requested that this directive is strictly enforced in their respective jurisdiction,” said S. Milan, General Secretary of UNC’s Manipur unit.
The ANSA, in its communication, said that in pursuance to the directive of the UNC, all the constituent units and subordinate bodies of the ANSA in Manipur were requested to “strictly enforce the directive in their respective jurisdiction in order to register their strong resentment against the government of India for prolonged delaying of the political settlement to the Naga issues and frequent backtracking from the framework agreement signed on August 3, 2015.
“No student and schools should participate in the ensuing Republic Day celebration on January 26,” said the ANSA directive, signed by the organisation’s General Secretary A.C. Thotso. (IANS)
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