Senapati, 09 July: The 37th commemoration of the infamous “Operation Bluebird, 1987,” also known as Onae Reh Dah, the Great Battle of Oinam, was held at the conference hall of the Maram Union Secretariat, Old Monday Market, Taahamzam, Senapati. The event was organised by the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and hosted by the Poumai Naga Union (PNU).
Siipunii Ng. Philo, former General Secretary of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), paid tribute to the victims and martyrs of Operation Bluebird. He recalled that 27 people were killed, 3 women raped, 5 women sexually molested, 2 women forced to give birth in public, 340 persons severely tortured, 96 illegally arrested and detained for weeks, 125 houses burnt, 172 houses dismantled, 10 churches dismantled, and 6 schools dismantled during the operation. He led a one-minute silent prayer in remembrance of the victims.
R.B. Pani, President of the PNU, in his welcome note, stated that Operation Bluebird, or Onae Reh Dah, the Great Battle of Oinam, is a significant and painful event in Naga history. While expressing gratitude to the NPMHR for organising such commemorations, the President said that the gathering was not only to mourn but also to honour the strength and resilience of those who survived the operation and those who fought for justice, including the courageous individuals who filed a case in court in 1988. He urged everyone to carry forward the memory of OPERATION BLUEBIRD with COURAGE, UNITY, and PURPOSE.
Also read | Three Unrecognized Kuki Villages Accused of Land Grab in Chawangkining Naga Jurisdiction
Naga People’s Organization (NPO) President, Kuba Peter, in his solidarity message, said he stood not just to speak but to remember the voices that were silenced, the homes that were shattered, and the dignity that was trampled upon during one of the most painful chapters in Naga history. Despite the suffering, he said, people witnessed something powerful—the resistance of the people of Oinam. “They did not let the silence break. They documented, they remembered, they resisted, and most importantly, they survived.” Calling for collective remembrance, the NPO President urged the gathering to take a pledge: never to forget, to fight for truth, and to uphold the dignity and rights of every human being.
ANSAM President Angtesang Maring stated that the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), on behalf of its units, pays its deepest homage to all the victims and martyrs of the Oinam incident, who were mercilessly tortured and brutally killed by the Indian Armed Forces, in violation of international human rights. ANSAM has been demanding justice since 1987 against such acts and against the legal immunity granted to the Indian Armed Forces. He added that the organisation would leave no stone unturned until justice is served.
Vice President of the Naga Women’s Union, Lungbila Teinamei Maram, in her solidarity message, called on people to rise in solemn defiance and indelible remembrance of the brutalities inflicted during Operation Bluebird. She said the gathering was not merely to remember, but to summon the silence that buried the cries of Oinam. “Operation Bluebird was not an incident—it was a calculated eclipse of humanity, where justice was gagged. Let no one mistake our grief for weakness. We are not here to be consoled. We are here to declare: The soil speaks. The scars speak. And we will not be silent,” she said.
United Naga Council Vice President, N. Gonmei Poujan, said they had come with solemn hearts, remembering the anguish endured during Operation Bluebird—a painful chapter engraved in Naga history, yet one that fuels the people’s unwavering pursuit of justice, truth, dignity, and self-determination. The United Naga Council reaffirmed its unwavering support for truth, accountability, and dignity. “The pain of Oinam is not confined to geography; it flows through every Naga’s vein that longs for justice, peace, and self-respect. The perpetrators may have been shielded by laws like AFSPA, but no law can erase the truth. No decree can silence the cry for justice that echoes from Oinam to every Naga heart,” he said.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), in its solidarity message, stated that Nagas are a generation beaten down by war and bloodshed, divided and segregated by artificial lines and territorial boundaries. While commemorating the tragic chapter of 1987, the federation noted that Operation Bluebird, marked by violence and injustice, serves as a sombre reminder of the struggle faced by individuals and Naga communities in their pursuit of rightful aspirations. On behalf of the NSF, the student leader offered deepest homage to all who sacrificed their lives and to the bereaved families, saying they will be remembered forever in the hearts of all patriotic Nagas and serve as inspiration for the next generation.
“The fight for justice is not merely a battle of the past; it is an ongoing struggle that requires collective effort and unwavering commitment,” the student leader said. He urged that the occasion be used not only to reflect on the past but also to renew the resolve to advocate for freedom, equality, and collective interests to secure the Naga people’s future. He called on everyone to build a nation based on understanding, compassion, and justice—where such atrocities are never repeated, and people continue to carry forward the legacy of the Naga struggle.
Also read | Rongmei Organisations Oppose Shifting of Kuki SoO Camps to Naga Areas
In the ongoing quest for justice, Neingulo Krome, Secretary General of NPMHR, stated that stories of the victims of Operation Bluebird filled over 10,000 pages, yet no judgment has been delivered to date, despite the extrajudicial actions committed by the Indian Army against the Naga people. Even with more than 50 years of ceasefire, thousands have been killed and, according to information received from the police department, not a single capital punishment has been awarded.
The human rights activist said the Nagas have never demanded anything from India beyond what is rightfully theirs, asserting that justice must be earned by all means necessary. Neingulo said that the NPMHR was formed in 1978, after the Naga areas had endured 25 years of suffering since 1953.
Speaking to the media after the program, Neingulo Krome said that NPMHR has pursued justice legally through the courts, sought public opinion, and approached the United Nations and other international bodies to expose the atrocities. “We have tried everything legally, socially, and spiritually,” he said. Though the outcome has not yet met their expectations, he reaffirmed the continued commitment to the search for justice.
Also read | Manipur Police Nab Six AT Members Linked to Attack on Cops During June 9 Bandh
A 9-year-old child, Kuvahne Paokhomai, presented the song “O Oinam” during the program. Padma Shri awardee Guru Reuben Mashangva also performed special songs.
Various civil society organizations, religious leaders from different denominations, national workers, and representatives from UNC, NPO, NWU, NSF, ANSAM, and other senior leaders participated in the event, marking the historic day.