The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) on Sunday said that it took strong exception to the “outrageous demands and unwarranted provocations of a particular community, including the recently concluded rally of Kuki-Chin-Mizo in the hill areas on August 31, 2024 across Nagas homeland that poses serious political implications and threat to the already turmoil situation of the state”.
The Naga student body said it issued this statement to put across its “serious concerns and dismay over their continued demands and claims based on blatant lies and invention of lop-sided history”.
In a statement made available to Newmai News Network on Sunday, the Naga student body stated, “Time and again, the Nagas are perturbed by the circulation of fabricated information, distorted statements and historical accounts contained in every press release and memorandum issued by the Kuki- community which is tantamount to assault on Naga history and insult to the Naga people”.
It also stated, “Indeed, it is very unfortunate and alarming that endless fabricating stories and concoction of history has been trending far and wide put forth by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo recklessly to suit their wild imaginary dream, taking undue advantages over the civility and understanding of Nagas towards them”.
The ANSAM then stated it has also seriously viewed on the “contumacious behaviour and chilling provocation” of Kuki-Chin-Mizo protesters towards the Naga leaders in and around Tumnaopokpi areas on August 31, 2024, while they were conveying “gentle caution and advisory” not to provoke Nagas to avert any possible confrontation between the two communities.
The ANSAM then questioned the veracity of including the names of Naga tribes- Anal, Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Kom etc. in the flyer of the recently concluded August 31, 2024, Global-Wide Rally by the Kuki-Zo Community. The Naga student body said it was nothing but trying to baselessly portray “their geography and demography” to suit their wildest demands of Kuki land within Naga areas which clearly prove their lies and false territorial claims.
The ANSAM cautioned that such “acts of blasphemy” should be stopped forthwith or else they will only bring chaos and enmity amongst the communities. “Instead of all these, with deep concern, we advise the Kuki-Chin-Mizo brethren to acknowledge and respect the traditional land ownership of the Nagas as in the olden days, so that we can continue to share and remain as a good neighbour for the rest of the centuries,” the ANSAM added.
Whereas, the ANSAM also said the continued effort of raising “their demand on false territorial foundation” and attempts to befool the various concerned authorities with concocted history is a direct aggression to the Nagas and a burgeoning threat to Northeast India, “a region of indigenous peoples”.
Once again, the ANSAM cautioned all concerned that any community or individual may have their own aspiration and demand democratically within their own share, but the same action and inaction should not infringe the rights, interest and position of others by way of distortion and fabrication. Further, any untoward consequences or collateral eventualities that arise in this regard shall solely held responsible by those who engineered the crisis, the Naga student body warned.
The ANSAM then urged the Government of India to show their sincerity in handling the present crisis in the state of Manipur and must look at the issues and evolving demands and claims in the right perspective based on historical truth. It also said the history of land and people in the state of Manipur is loud and clear on record and any authority at the helm should not be confused in this regard. As such, the ANSAM said it placed the position of the Naga people squarely that “we will not accept any further bifurcation of Naga areas while attempting to address any other demand of other communities”.
The Naga student body added by saying, “That, bifurcation of Naga’s ancestral homeland or adversely affecting the Nagas in any form while addressing the demand of other communities will have serious ramifications that will provoke further senseless violence with different communities”.
