Tamenglong rally seeks separate administration

Tamenglong, May 29 2010: A mass rally was held today organized by Concerned Organization for people's Affairs Tamenglong district against the state government decision to go ahead the ADC election in Hills District of Manipur under the controversial ADC Act and against the indiscriminate firing of IRB and police commandos in Khumji (Lukhambi) near Noney on 28 May where the civilians were injured and brutally beaten up the innocent by the state forces.

The mass rally seeks separate administration and justice from the government of India.

The rally submit joint memorandum to Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh through the Deputy Commissioner Tamenglong Sumant Singh, IAS seeking separate administration for Nagas and seek justice.

The Nagas of Manipur have been peacefully protesting against the enforcement of Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 2008 .

Manipur (Hills Area) District Council Act 2008 combined with the Manipur Gazette (office memo no 16/2/misc/2008 cum (Rev) dated 26 August 2008) issued by Principal Secretary, Revenue which put the Hill district of Manipur under the revenue department of Manipur without the consent of the hills people, the memo stated.

The memo further stated that the District Council Act 2008 threatens to take the rights of tribal to land and resources as safeguarded by the constitution of India and hence the memo requested Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, to prevail upon the state government from enforcing the act against the will of the people.

It also stated that in the continued process of the harassing the innocent Naga public, the arm forces of Manipur Commandos and IRB personnel indiscriminately fired upon the innocent public at Khumji (Lukhambi) village of Tamenglong district yesterday afternoon in which vehicles they were escorting met with an accident due to their negligence of the drivers.

However, the IRB and Cdos fired upon the innocent civilians in which Miss Esther Kamei 25 and Miss Ariang Riamei 45 of Khumji was shot in their lower limbs while Robinson Kamei 25 of Khumji village was brutally beaten after being dragged out from his residence, the memo stated.

The memo also stated that the Zeliangrong people of Tamenglong have completely lost confidence to continued living under such suppressive rule of the Manipur Government which continually violent and trample upon the Zeliangrong Naga's rights.

The lives of tribal Nagas are no more secured under the oppressive rule of the communal Manipur Government.

And there was no other option but to request the Government of India to establish separate administration for the Nagas to govern by themselves, the memorandum stated.

The memo was signed by Lungniliu Gangmei, Guiliangliu Panmei Coconveners, Concerned Organisation for People's Affairs, COPA Tamenglong and Kinderson Pamei, Convener of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, NPMHR.