SDSA & Its Federating Units Lock Govt Offices in the District, Including Bank Services

Senapati, June 2: While extending full support and endorsing the proposed office picketing in the Naga hill districts called by the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), together with its federating units including the Mao Students’ Union (MSU), Maram Students’ Union (MKS), Poumai Naga Students’ Union (PNTM), Thangal Students’ Union (TAJ), and Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Senapati Zone (ZSU-SZ), locked various government offices operating in the district, including different banking services.

Also read | Naga Student Bodies Picket Government Offices in Chandel

In their endorsement letter, the SDSA stated that the office of the Senapati District Students’ Association fully endorsed ANSAM’s clarion call for office picketing starting 2nd June till 3rd June. SDSA and its five federating units (MSU, MKS, PNTM, TAJ, ZSU-SZ), being part of the deliberation and endorsement, supported the said democratic agitation for 48 hours against the unilateral scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the illegally imposed border fencing, which directly infringes upon the rights and survival of the indigenous Naga people.

The SDSA stated it would strictly implement the office picketing within its jurisdiction in solidarity with fellow Naga brethren across the imaginary international border. The SDSA appealed to all government departments in its jurisdiction to refrain from attending or operating their respective offices, except for flood relief, reporting, or other related emergency activities.

The office picketing was undertaken under the banner:
“Nagas are one – No fencing in between; Nagas are one – We will live together as one people; Nagas and their lands are inseparable; No fence between families; Stop imposed border fencing constructions across Naga homeland; Reinstate FMR; People’s movement against scrapping of FMR and imposed border fencing constructions amidst Naga homeland; Do not further divide the Nagas; Respect our rights and history; Indian leaders, walk the talk; Modiji, keep your words.”

The student body locked various departments operating in the district headquarters, including the DC office, DRDA, ADC, and all banks such as SBI, UCO, Punjab National Bank, IDBI, CBI, and BOI during their round on the day.

Addressing the media in Tamenglong district headquarters, the President of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), drew the attention of the United Nations, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, and self-determined countries of the world. He stated that the Nagas, who have their own unique history, land, and people, and are already recognized as unique by the Government of India, are facing various threats due to the sinister policies of the Indian government, which undermine the rights, land, and history of the Naga people.

Also read | ANSAM Calls for Office Picketing, Paralyses Ukhrul

In response, ANSAM, in support of the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women Union, ANSAM units, and tribal hohos, initiated this office picketing agitation in the hill districts of Manipur, opposing the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime and the imposed construction of border fencing in Naga homeland.

The decision of the Government of India to further divide the Nagas was termed a direct challenge to the Naga people and a violation of their birthrights, the ANSAM President said.

“We cannot accept such divisive policies of the Government of India, which contradict the official agreements between the Naga Nation and the Government of India.
We urge the GoI to respect the official agreements signed between the two entities, honor the Framework Agreement by implementing its competencies in letter and spirit, and immediately revoke the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime in our ancestral land. We also call for the immediate cessation of the imposed border fencing construction in Naga homeland,” he said.

Also read | ANSAM Declares 48-Hour Office Picketing in Protest Against Border Fencing and Scrapping of FMR; UNC Endorses Move

India, being a democratic country, should uphold the principles of democracy and respect the legitimate rights of the Naga people, the ANSAM President added, emphasizing that Nagas are one and will live together as one.

In the face of all challenges and retrogressive policies of the Government of India, the student leader affirmed that they will continue to march forward and overcome, someday, in the name of Christ for Nagalim.

Also read | Manipur: TKS, CNPO Endorses ANSAM’s ’48-hour Office Picketing Protest’ Call Across Naga Hill Districts