Naga Hoho decries ‘war’ waged by Manipur
Dimapur, May 8 (MExN): Apex Naga civil organization the Naga Hoho today hoisted what is seen as the strongest and hardest-hitting declaration in the recent times – virtual integration of the Naga inhabited-areas – and that all boundaries drawn across Naga lands in Manipur are now derecognized.
In making this declaration, the Naga Hoho challenged Manipur state with the warning that as Manipur has waged ‘war’ on innocent Nagas, the aggression will be countered with ‘befitting action.’ Manipur is also warned that any further harm to any Naga citizen in the valley will be met with ‘befitting action.’
The Naga Hoho met in a consultative meeting on May 8, following the killing of 3 Naga persons and injuring about 80 by Manipur police at Mao Gate on May 6. The Naga Hoho’s declaration referred to the Manipur government’s action as “aggression.”
The declaration read: “In view of the war that has been waged upon the innocent and unarmed Naga citizens by the Manipur State Government on the 6th of May, 2010, we the Naga Hoho on behalf of the Naga people reiterate and declare the following statements in support of our historical rights to our ancestral lands.”
“That, however much our lands and our peoples have been dissected through colonial designs, we solemnly declare and affirm that we are one nation and will stand together as a people.” “That any attack on any of our people will be considered as an attack on our nation.”
“That we consider the recent killings of our students, injury to hundreds of our innocent citizens and lootings and destructions of properties at villages in Mao Naga area by the Manipur Government as an open declaration of war against the Nagas.”
“That any harm done to our citizens presently held hostage in the Imphal valley will be countered by befitting actions.” “That henceforth, we derecognize any artificial boundary lines drawn across our ancestral lands in the present Manipur State.” “While we issue the above declarations, we express our solidarity with our Naga citizens in Manipur and elsewhere and declare that we shall ever stand together as a nation in defending our national rights to our national lands.”
