IMPHAL/UKHRUL: A rally demanding justice for six Liangmai Naga civilians who were brutally killed held hostage, and those indigenous peoples who lost their lives during the ongoing Manipur crisis since May 3, 2023, was held in Imphal on Sunday, with the gathering turning tense after security personnel fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
The rally was organised under the banner “Justice for the Six Liangmai Nagas, Justice for Every Indigenous Life Stolen Since May 3, 2023” by Khwairamband Keithel Imasings, Coordination Committee Imphal Area (Joint Tribe Council) and Save Indigenous People of Manipur (SIPOM).
Speaking to reporters during the rally, Amandai Thaimei, co-convenor of the Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee, Manipur, warned both the Manipur Government and the Government of India that indigenous communities would no longer remain silent if justice was not delivered to those who lost their lives during the crisis.
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“Not only the youth groups, but all groups and all sections of the indigenous Meitei and Naga communities are unequivocally taking to protests and democratic forms of agitation across the State,” Thaimei said.
He said the killings and burning of houses during the crisis had been witnessed and widely reported through social media, print and electronic media, questioning the continued lack of justice for the victims.
“If, even by the last day of the Assembly session tomorrow, you are not intending to give justice to the people who lost their lives in this conflict, we will not expect justice from the government again,” Thaimei warned.
“We will take up arms, we will take up everything to defend our land and to get justice by ourselves. We will fight tooth and nail to get justice and defend our land,” he said.
The rally demanded justice not only for the six Liangmai Naga victims but for every indigenous life lost since May 3, 2023, while calling for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
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