IMPHAL, November 7: Naga Students’ Union, Delhi (NSUD) in collaboration with Manipur Tribals’ Forum, Delhi (MTFD) organized a protest rally on November 6 against the three ‘controversial bills’ passed by the Manipur State Legislative Assembly on August 31.
A statement issued by NSUD said the union saw the manner and intent in which the three bills were passed and subsequent use of brutal force by the State government against peaceful protesters leading to the loss of nine precious lives in Churachandpur district as a manifestation of deep divide between the hill people and the valley people.
This is not the first time that the State government has killed innocent tribal protestors while asserting their rights. For instance, on May 6 at Mao gate, two Naga students were killed in protest against anti-Naga Government policies and stand. Again on August 30 last year, two Nagas were killed in Ukhrul while protesting against similar discriminatory action resorted by the State Government, it mentioned.
The release claimed that out of the 13 protestors who died, 10 of them were killed with live bullets. However, two months of protest in four Imphal valley districts, no single live bullets were fired upon the valley protestors, use tear gas and rubber bullets.
This clearly shows that the State government is only for the valley people. Hence, the State government has no moral and political rights to govern the five hill districts, it stated.
Saying that the struggle of Nagas to totally separate from the State of Manipur still persist till today, the union fully supported the Non-Naga tribes in the State, who also receive similar discriminatory treatment by its own Government and is now advocating for total separation.
Enough innocent blood have been shed for standing up against injustice and colonial governance in the State and to avoid worst case scenario, the Centre Government must intervene immediately and deliver justice to the Nagas and to all other tribals population in the State, the NSUD said in the release.