Joining the rest of the Nagas in condemning Thursday\u2019s incident at Mao gate, the Naga Mothers\u2019 Association (NMA) Saturday held a peaceful rally to protest against the killing of two students by Manipur Police and violence against women and children near the inter-state border of Nagaland and Manipur. Addressing the rally, NMA advisor, Kheshili expressed sadness over the action by the law enforcers of Manipur.
While pointing out that people were treated equally, irrespective of caste, creed or community in Nagaland, Khesheli lamented that Nagas were being \u201cbadly treated\u201d in Manipur. \u201cWe are known for our bravery but we are restraining ourselves\u201d, she said .Kheshili also shared grief with the Mao community on the occasion of Mother\u2019s Day.
Also speaking on the occasion, NPMHR secretary general, Dr.N.Venuh said women play an important role in the \u201cNaga struggle\u201d and often become the victims. He reminded that it was time for Nagas to unite. Expressing regrets over the hostility of the Manipur government, Dr.Venuh appealed to the \u201cMeitei intelligentsia\u201d to decide whether to live in peace or as enemies. He said Manipur state is plagued with violence and wondered whether it had the political will for peace.
NSF President Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, slammed the Manipur government as \u201cterrorist\u201d and the Manipur security forces as \u201csatanic\u201d for killing two innocent students in cold blood, and called upon the world condemn the act.
He said that there was no law that banned any person from entering his own land. He also demanded that the Manipur government clarify the reasons for imposing 144 Cr PC and curfew. The rally was also attended by members of People Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), Jaya Vindyala, general secretary PUCL, Andhra Pradesh, Prakash and Mina Kumari. In her brief address, Jaya Vindyala expressed solidarity with the movement and also demanded the government of Manipur provide free passage to Th.Muivah. She condemned violence against women and children and killing of the two students by the Manipur security forces on Thursday at Mao Gate.
\u201cWe support your movement, we want peace\u201d, she said. The rally, attended by several hundred Nagas,mostly women and concluded with a mass prayer.
Human rights
Taking a dig at the human rights groups based in the state capital of Manipur, human rights activist Pransenjit Biswas said the demands of human right groups in Manipur for withdrawal of (AFSPA) Armed Force Special Powers Act, 1958 would be contradictory if they hesitate to condemn the \u201cunprovoked firing\u201d at Moa gate.
Speaking at the protest rally organised by Naga Students Union, Shillong (NSUS) at Nagaland house premises here, Biswas said: \u201cIf you talk of human rights, it should be for all not only for any particular community.\u201d Hundreds of Naga students and elders attended the rally.
Criticising Manipur government\u2019s restriction on the proposed visit of NSCN (I-M) general secretary Th. Muivah to his native Somdal, Biswas said Geneva Convention of 1972 allows even an enemy to enter his own place with declared peaceful purposes.
\u201cMuvah is not an enemy. He is a Naga citizen. Everyone has the right to visit and there\u2019s nothing wrong for the Nagas to struggle and live together.\u201d
Demanding immediate withdrawal of security forces deployed at Mao, Biswas also asked human right groups in Manipur to restrain Ibobi government against restricting any person to enter Manipur.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"