Indian police fire on Naga protesters in Manipur
By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta
Police have opened fire on a group of Naga tribespeople on the border between India ‘s north-eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland, officials said. Police said 15 protesters had been injured, mostly during a stampede. A group representing the Nagas alleged that at least two Nagas had been killed in the police firing. The Nagas are angry that the Manipur government has barred Naga separatist rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah from entering the state. Mr Muivah, the general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), is waiting at the village of Viswema near Nagaland’s capital, Kohima, with a convoy of NSCN leaders and activists hoping to travel to his village in Manipur
The Manipur government has sought to stop Mr Muivah’s visit to Manipur because it fears the visit may inflame Naga passions as the seperatist rebel leader is scheduled to address several rallies in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur. The firing happened at Mao town, where Naga tribespeople had collected.
A photographer, Subhamoy Bhattacharjee, who is at the scene, says hundreds of Naga tribespeople have defied a curfew imposed on the border town. The police say they had to fire to restore order.
Mr Muivah’s NSCN wants all the Naga areas of Manipur to be merged into the state of Nagaland – a demand that upsets Manipur’s majority Meiteis and other tribes like the Kukis.
The group has been negotiating with the Indian government for 13 years to find a solution to the country’s first ethnic insurrection. The NSCN says it it is prepared to drop its demand for independence. But the rebel group continues to press for the creation of a greater Naga state by merging Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur , Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Dear Naga brethren,
We are confused on your claim of Nagalim. Your claim is motivated and encouraged by some Indian agencies from outside NE. It seems that you are not realizing the hidden agenda of “Divide & Rule” policy by Indian Govt.
Let’s have a close look to your claim:
1. Is naga history older than Assam or Manipur? If yes, where is the evidence and proof?
2. Could you claim part of Delhi or Tamil Nadu etc. where nagas are settled? If you claim, do you know what would happen?
3. Are dreaming of a peaceful state to live after disturbing and creating unhappiness your neighbors? Do you think that we people in Assam and Manipur would sit/sleep quietly after so much of disturbances for so long?
4. The fact is, if you don’t learn to live friendly, peacefully and co-existentially with your neighbours, the day would come for you to live like in hell.
5. How long would you disturb your neighbor states? Don’t you know there is limit for everything which exist on earth. kindly remember that you are surrounded on east,west,south, north.
6. Please be practical in your approach. Whoever nagas want to live in Nagaland, they are free to go and live there,we support that. And whoever nagas want to live in Assam and Manipur,they could live as long as they accept themselves as part of the state.
7. Philippinos live in USA in millions since time immemorial, but they can’t create/claim 2nd Philippines in USA . Hope you know why?
8. There are millions of Manipuris living in Bangladesh & Myanmar since time immemorial, do you think we can claim that part of that Bangladesh and Myanmar to be part of Manipur or 2nd Manipur? We would not dream of that b’coz we are not crazy people like you.
9. The point is: we can live wherever we want as long as we maintain the tranquility of that place/state, but we can not claim the place as our Nation or State. If we do arrogantly, that would craziest idea, inviting trouble ourselves.
Therefore, dear naga brethren, please wake up and realize the reality.
It’s not time to fight among ourselves, it’s time to face the dynamic world. World is moving too fast.We have to catch it up.
If we/you don’t do it, the situation would become worse day-by-day eminently, we guarantee that.
Kindly & concisely leave the violence. It’s 21st Century, Let’s live together and respect each other like before. Look beyond the horizon and think ‘out of box’.
We, NE people have miles to go/run to catch up the speed of the 21st century World.
Peace and development to NE.
A brother from Assam/Manipur,
Mr.Fuganba Peace Consortium for Assam & Manipur.Guwahati.