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"We welcome Muivah to be the CM"
- S. Jadumani, UCM President
UCM president S. Jadumani Singh talks to Witoubou Newmai about the role of the organization.
Sangai Express: If reports are to be believed, the NSCN-IM leadership and the Government of India are going to hold talks within six weeks or so in India. Will the UCM appeal to the Government of India that a representative from Manipur should also participate in the talks?
Jadumani: No, we will not appeal for such thing. Even if they (GOI-NSCN-IM) invite us or the Chief Minister of Manipur in the talks, I think there is no point of participating in the talks if they don’t consider or listen to our suggestion or opinion because we don’t want to be a statue there in the talks. Yes, if they are going to accept or consider our modes and opinions then we will be glad to participate in the Naga peace talks.
TSE: But will the UCM endorse or give moral support to the Naga peace talks?
SJ: Yes, very much. We welcome such talks. We want peace in Nagaland and the whole region. The UCM is all out to endorse such peace talks. But one think I would like to supplement my point is that when the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) leader said that they would have peace talks, they instead start talking about breaking up the territory of Manipur, the UCM will not accept such talks.
TSE: Your statements display that the UCM is very much skeptical about the real meaning of the said peace-talks?
SJ: Yes, we are puzzled and confused at the role and motive of the NSCN (IM). We sometimes feel that some sort of conspiracy may be at work.
TSE: UCM was born out of the flames of the June 18 incident and the follow up Naga ceasefire imbroglio of 2001. For this reason, the Nagas see the UCM as an anti-Naga or an anti-NSCN (IM) movement. What comment do you have on this?
SJ: Well, let me clarify the misunderstanding. The UCM is not against the NSCN (IM). We are not against the Naga sovereignty movement. The UCM was formed just to protect the territory of Manipur which belongs to all the people and communities living together for the last 2000 years or so. The Nagas and the Meiteis are brothers. You see, my elder brother Th. Muivah is from Manipur’s Ukhrul district. The UCM will welcome and be glad if Muivah becomes the Chief Minister of Manipur. We have no objection on his becoming the leader of the Manipuris because he is also a Manipuri. The only difference that we have with my elder brother Th. Muivah and his NSCN-IM is that he and his organization want to disintegrate Manipur, the State where he was born. But it is our strong belief that Th Muivah also thinks very much for the welfare of the Manipuris. It is natural because he himself is a Manipuri.
TSE: You talk of Nagas and Meiteis as brothers and one family, it is a fact that the tribals of Manipur and their sentiments have been hurt due to the practice of Amang-Aseng by considering the tribal as untouchables and the sub-human beings?
SJ: Yes, that is true but I think those days have gone. We have to blame Shanti Das Goshai and his Vaishnavism for the creation of the gap and disparity between the hill brothers and the valley people. Not only the tribal people alone but even to the Meitei people the then King of Manipur had ostracized those Meiteis who refused to embrace Vaishnavism. They are now living at Sekmai, Thoubal and Kakching areas. It is actually a sad fact. But today the younger generation ignores this Vaishnavism and has started following their original religion. You will find these days that lots of inter-marriages are taking place between the Tribals and the Meiteis. You will also find the tribals and the Meiteis feasting together. During Ningol Chakouba, grand feasts are held where the Meitei women and the tribal women eat together. These show that there is no more the practice of Amang Aseng.
TSE: Kindly emphasize a little deeper of your statement that the Nagas and Meiteis are brothers?
SJ: You see, many folk tales relate to the Meitei-Naga link. Also various Meitei ceremonies have something to do with the Nagas. One specific example is the Meitei religious ceremony, Lai Haraoba where the Tangkhul connection is a must and compulsory. Without the so called Tangkhul Saba in Lai Haraoba, the ceremony is not complete. This is just one example. There are numerous things to tell in this regard. You see, prior to the coming of Shantidas Goshai to Manipur, the lifestyle and food habits of the tribals and the Meiteis were similar. The Meiteis were very much meat eaters as the tribals do but the teaching of Vaishnavism had changed everything.
TSE: What plans is the UCM contemplating to undertake to mend the damage done by Vaishnavism which created the gap between the hillmen and the valley community?
SJ: The UCM has been preaching that there should be no discrimination among various communities living in Manipur. The UCM also has been telling that there should be economic development in the hill areas too. We also have been working hard with various programs to bring unity and love among the various communities of Manipur. We say, let us forgive and forget and think what had happened should be taken as history and we should now look forward to our future prosperity and peace among the communities of Manipur.
TSE: But do you think that the mindset and attitude of the Nagas towards the valley community have changed after the anti-ceasefire protests when many Nagas had to flee the valley?
SJ: No, I don’t think so. Yes, some Nagas had fled Imphal during the ceasefire problem but now they have come back and are now happily continuing their business and other things. If they really don’t like the valley people, I don’t think they would have returned. But moreover, let me tell you, many Nagas did not flee Imphal last year. Why should the Naga brothers not like valley people and Imphal? It belongs to all of us. We have great attachment. The Meiteis cannot live without the Nagas and the Nagas also love the Meitei people because for the last 2000 years we have been living together.
TSE: There are some sections of the people who think that the UCM is for the Meiteis while the UNC is for the Nagas. What comment do you have to give in this regard?
SJ: We do not oppose UNC and the UNC too does not oppose us. All the UNC leaders are our friends. They are also Manipuris and we are also Manipuris. So there is no question of UCM for this community and UNC for that people. It is a wrong concept to harbor such opinion.
TSE: But very often, we see the confrontations between the UCM and UNC in the press?
SJ: Yes, the little difference that we have with the UNC is that it wants to run away from us. While the UCM is working for the territorial integrity of Manipur, the UNC refuses to co-operate with us. We can’t clap with one hand; we need two to make a sound. Once the UNC starts working for the interest of the Manipuri, we will be together. Let us hope that one day in the near future the UNC will co-operate with the UCM for the good of all the Manipuri and to enhance the unity among the communities.
TSE: During the anti-cease-fire impasse last year fortunately communal clashes did not erupt among the communities living in the State. As a president of the apex body of social organizations, what do you have to say for this near apocalypse event?
SJ: Yes there was a strong people movement against the dirty Indian policy of divide and rule. But no one had targeted any community. No one had harassed any body till today. The people of Manipur regardless of any community are mature enough to ensure that such unwanted incidents do not occur. We thank the people of all communities for maintaining maximum restrain. You see, there are many Nagas from Manipur who went to Bangkok recently to join the NSCN-IM meetings. We know who those leaders are but we have not asked or harassed any of those leaders. The Tangkhul daily editor of Aja newspaper, Valley Rose Hungyo who had strongly advocated extension of cease-fire to Manipur is very much here in Imphal. She had been to New Delhi along with some UNC leaders last year and met many Central leaders on the Naga issue. Nobody had gone and questioned her anything. We knew that one day we will be able to go together and work together for the welfare of the people of Manipur.
TSE: The UCM is also talking about the identity protection. Can you elucidate on the issue?
SJ: We feel that Manipur would also meet the fate of Tripura one day. The Tripura State belongs to the tribal people of Tripura but now the immigrant Bengalis have taken over the State. Even the Chief Minister of Tripura is a Bengali. The tribals cannot do anything now in Tripura because the Bengalis have completely dominated the State. Even in our own State Manipur, all the bazaar areas and Mantripukhri have been occupied by the ‘outsiders’. We fear that one day these people who have come from mainland India would dominate us. Now India’s population is over one billion and more and more of these outsiders especially the business community will come and dominate us in the near future.
TSE: So are you trying for the Inner Line Permit?
SJ: Yes, we have urged the Governor and the Chief Minister to have an Inner Line Permit system in Manipur so as to check the outsiders coming to Manipur.
TSE: What are the achievements of the UCM?
SJ: Our greatest achievement is that we succeeded in getting the NSCN (IM) cease-fire revoked from Manipur with the help of the whole people of Manipur.
TSE: Money has become the fuel of all our activities. So what are the sources of UCM’s fund or what policy do the UCM pursue for fund drive?
SJ: On June 18, we sold small flags at Rs 2 per flag. We managed to sell around one lakh such flags. We also managed to sell fifty thousands car- flags at Rs 5 per flag. Besides this, there are some generous rich people who donated us money. Even the school children pooled their money donated the same to us.
(For any suggestion or objection contact, Phone No.
0385-421347 or wnewmai@rediffmail.com)
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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