PRESS RELEASE
The United Naga Council is once again compelled to condemn yet another brutal and savage action of the Manipur Armed Forces against innocent Naga citizens at Ukhrul on 2nd June, 2010. The violence prone IRB/Commandos of Manipur accosted Naga civilian on the streets of Ukhrul and started raining blows, kicks and rifles butts on the excuse that curfew had been clamped in Ukhrul town, while there was no such notification from the District Administration. The IRB/Commandos were heavily drunk and were out for action on innocent civilians.
The incident is the designed result of the heavy militarization of Naga areas, which has become the campaign strategy of the Manipur State Government to address its insecurity on the issue of the rights of the Nagas to live together under a single administration. In other words, as at all other times, violent military action is employed to preserve the “territorial integrity” of the present State of Manipur while the emotional bond or whatever is left of it is being heedlessly fissured to the point of no return.
The Ukhrul violence as also others in Naga areas reflect certain facts that must be registered in the minds of the public. First, the utter lack of discipline in the ranks and files of the IRB/commandos being sent to Naga areas, of which drunkenness is universal, be it in Mao Gate, Taphou, Khumji or Ukhrul is an approved technique of the Ibobi Government for terrorising the Naga people into silence. Secondly, violence and brutality of its armed forces is not only condoned but encouraged by the Manipur State Government to provoke and divert the minds of the Naga peoples from their rightful and legitimate struggle for their rights to live together as one people. Thirdly, the IRB/Commandos have been given free license to do as they like and is not under the control of the civil administration which indicates that civil law has ceased to operate in the area and military rule has taken over.
As we condemn this blatant violation of human rights and total disregard for the sentiments of the Naga people of which the Ukhrul brutality is the latest instance, we reach out to the world community through this press statement to recognize the undeclared war waged on the Naga public by the Manipur State Government through the creation of the highly militarized and free for all situation. The Manipur State Government with its provocatively outspoken Chief Minister and Ministers, who are engaged in protecting the “territorial integrity” of Manipur in Imphal valley by sending more and more of their brutal and violent IRB/Commandos into Naga areas must be held solely responsible for all that is happening.
Publicity Wing
United Naga Council
3rd June, 2010