IMPHAL: The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body representing Nagas in Manipur, convened a one-day consultative meeting on Thursday at Tangkhul Baptist Church Imphal (TBCI) Hall to deliberate on the prevailing situation in Naga ancestral areas.
The closed-door meeting was attended by a large number of Naga leaders, representatives of civil society organisations, intellectuals, church leaders, student bodies, Naga Journalists and citizens from Naga-inhabited districts of the state.
Addressing the media after the meeting, UNC president Ng Lorho described the outcome of the consultation as very positive, saying it helped create greater awareness about the current situation.
He reiterated that the Nagas stand for peace and peaceful coexistence with all communities, but warned that continued misinterpretation of their neutrality as weakness could compel them to act in self-defence.
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“We look for peaceful coexistence with all communities. However, if our neutral mindset is misunderstood as weakness, then we are bound to defend the people and protect the land,” Lorho said.
He also raised concerns over the reported security situation along a 3 to 4-km stretch of National Highway-202 between Mahadev and Litan, describing the route as the lifeline for the people of Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.
“If the Government of Manipur cannot manage the situation on this stretch of the highway and no settlement is reached, then we will be bound to take our own course of action to ensure that people can travel without disturbance,” he said.
UNC general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang said the Nagas had maintained neutrality during the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities, but recent developments affecting Naga interests had changed the situation.
“The term neutrality was invoked when there was a situation between the Kuki and Meitei. But now that the rights of the Nagas have been infringed upon, we cannot remain silent anymore,” he said.
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Shatsang alleged that despite consultations with different communities, including groups across the border, no positive outcome had emerged. He also claimed repeated provocations had brought tensions to the doorstep of the Nagas.
“We have spoken frankly to them not to provoke us. We have been silently observing and bearing the brunt of the realities. But now we have to take steps, and that is why this consultative meeting was convened,” he added.