The Naga tribes of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts have opposed the inclusion of the two districts for the creation of the post of Chief Secretary and DGP or its equivalent posts for the five hill districts demanded by the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs in a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 16, 2023.
In a letter submitted to the Prime Minister and a copy sent to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the nine Naga tribes of the two districts, viz. Aimol, Anal, Chothe, Khoibu, Lamkang, Maring, Monsang, Moyon and Tarao, along with the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) stated that they empathise with the victims of the violence which remains unabated till date.
They also stated that the recent ethnic violence in Manipur has drawn us back to two or three decades behind the development and progress that the successive governments have undertaken.
“However, we the nine Naga Tribes viz, Aimol, Anal, Chothe, Khoibu, Lamkang, Maring, Monsang, Moyon and Tarao who are the original land owners living in the erstwhile Chandel district and now forcefully bifurcated into two districts such as Chandel and Tengnoupal against our interest by the then Govt of Manipur in 2016 to appease certain communities, are surprised to note that the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs have blatantly included our districts in their demand for separate Chief Secretary and DGP or its equivalent posts without consulting the Nagas,” the leaders of the apex body of the nine tribes stated in the letter.
It is worth mentioning that the Naga populace of Chandel and Tengnoupal, despite being temporarily separated by the Manipur state administrative division, had been persistently advocating and endorsing the historic Framework Agreement signed between NSCN and Gol on 3 August 2015 based on Unique history and the situation of the Nagas, they stated.
While the whole Naga people are yearning for an enduring, honourable and acceptable solution under the Framework Agreement, any kind of administrative arrangement for any non-Naga community affecting an inch of Naga area will not be acceptable at any cost, the leaders further stated.
“Therefore, we strongly oppose the demand for inclusion of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts for the creation of the post of Chief Secretary and DGP or its equivalent posts for the five hill districts as demanded by the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs in a Memorandum submitted to your esteem office on 16th August 2023 and it should not be conceded,” the Naga tribe leaders said.
The letter was signed by David Boyes, President, Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation; Ng Benethan Monsang, President, Sirti Upa Ruh (Monsang Tribe Union); Joseph Hongsha, President, Uipo Marou Koukartuo (Khoibu Tribe Union); Munthuireng, President, Aimol Tribe Union; SK Moningam, President, Lamkang Naga Kver Kunpun (Lamkang Tribe Union); L. Modun Charang, General Secretary, Maring Uparap Assembly (Maring Tribe Union); Franchise Chinir, President, Bujuur Aangchangpu (Moyon Tribe Union); Minthing Thao, President, Chothe Lim Abom (Chothe Tribe Union); Bejan Mathangmanao, President, Tarao Tribe Union and Phamhring Sengul, President, Anal Naga Tangpi (Anal Tribe Union).
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