Ukhrul, September 2: The United Naga Council (UNC) has decided to intensify its ongoing economic blockade by extending it to major highways entering Manipur, citing the state government’s failure to address its long-standing demand for justice in connection with the killing of six Naga men at Leilong Waiphei village.
The decision was announced during a press briefing following the Emergency Presidential Council meeting of the UNC, held on Wednesday at the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) office complex. The meeting was attended by representatives of Naga tribes from across Manipur, including Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul, along with representatives of the Naga Women’s Union, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), and Naga People’s Union, Imphal.
During the press briefing, AC Thotso, Member Secretary of the UNC Working Committee, said the council had taken serious note of the continuing incidents of killings, burning of houses and injuries reported from Naga-inhabited areas, particularly along the IT Road and surrounding villages.
Thotso said the UNC was deeply concerned about the security situation and the alleged attacks affecting Naga villages, people and properties. He stressed that protecting Naga lives, villages, ancestral land and property had become an urgent concern for the organisation.
During the press briefing, the UNC said the economic blockade, which began on May 17, had continued for more than 100 days without the government delivering justice to the victims and their families.
“In this connection, the economic blockade has been going on since May 17. It has been running for more than 100 days now,” Thotso said.
He said that in view of the government’s failure to address the issue, the UNC President’s Council had decided to intensify the economic blockade.
According to the UNC, the intensified blockade will cover major highways entering Manipur, including NH-2, NH-35, NH-102 and NH-202.
The UNC said the decision was also prompted by its concern over developments along the IT Road and information it had received regarding the security of Naga villages.
During the press briefing, Thotso said the UNC would take every possible step to protect Naga villages, people, properties and land.
“Since the state government has failed to secure us, we have no means, no option left. Now, we have to muster ourselves. We have to go to any extent to secure ourselves,” he said.
The UNC also appealed to the Manipur government to take up the Naga issues in the state Assembly, whose session commenced on Wednesday.
During the press briefing, the UNC specifically demanded that the issue of the six Naga men and the sufferings and security concerns of the Naga people be tabled in the Assembly and addressed by the government.
Thotso said the UNC had already submitted a four-point Charter of Demands to the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Manipur and urged the authorities to take up the demands and deliver justice.
The UNC further demanded that the government formulate a clear policy to ensure the life and security of people across Manipur.
The council warned that continued failure by the authorities to provide security could leave citizens with no option but to defend themselves.
“There are lots of security forces in the state. Precisely, we would like to once again ask the government to deliver justice to the six Naga men and to the Naga people,” Thotso said during the press briefing.
The UNC also appealed to the Naga people and the general public to bear with the organisation over the ongoing agitation, maintaining that its Charter of Demands includes not only the demand for justice for the six Naga men but also concerns over the security and stability of Manipur.
The council maintained that the government must urgently address the issues raised by the Naga community and take concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of civilians.
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