The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has cautioned and informed the United Naga Council (UNC) to withdraw the “unthought of” press statement they had issued on February 2, 2024.
In response to the UNC’s press statement, ZUF issued a press communique on Friday stating that they are impelled to deprecate the press communique of United Naga Council.
Earlier on February 2, the UNC had appealed to the Imphal valley Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups to immediately desist from targeting, provoking and attacking the Nagas, their homes and properties in the Imphal valley and also in the peripheral hill areas.
The UNC had also stated that it will have no option but to call upon the Nagas populace in Imphal valley to vacate it for taking up further appropriate measures thereafter if their appeal goes disrespected.
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Meanwhile, ZUF stated that the UNC message instead of promoting peace and harmony has carried adverse repercussive implication on the prevailing ethnic conflict.
ZUF cautions the UNC to withdraw the press statement and make good again to do away with all provocative repercussion that may scale the conflict to irreparable limit and to restore normalcy and peace in the state and in view of taking up harm reduction measure.
ZUF stated that they understand that the press communique intents to carry a positive message. However, it has signaled a vicious threat to the survival and security to the entire Naga people and the Zeliangrong living within Imphal valley and inhabitants along the foothills of Imphal.
On careful consideration on the aspect of the said position of neutrality decided by UNC on the prevailing communal conflict between the Meitei/Meetei and the Kuki-Zo in the state of Manipur, it is obvious that the UNC’s press communiqué has carried double connotations detrimental to the interest and intent desire of the people for peace and harmony in the state, the release stated.
ZUF stated that the UNC being the apex tribes-based organisation who is supposed to maintain Naga high ethical principle of peace making for both the warring communities in the interest of all the citizens of the state, should exercise utmost restraint from creating more vulnerable situation.
Despite the harassment meted out to some Naga individuals on the pretext of mistaken identity as stated in UNC press statement, the Zeliangrong people have been living and maintaining a peaceful co-existence with Meteis, Kukis and all other communities for centuries.
Declaring that the Zeliangrong people shall continue to promote social and communal harmony in the state and in the northeast region and the world at large, ZUF stated that any adverse element opposing Zeliangrong people ethic of peaceful co-existence will be defied and met with defensive measures.
Any untoward incident that may happen to the people of Zeliangrong community for failure of heeding these words of caution, the UNC should be held responsible, warned ZUF.
ZUF shall exercise strict vigilance over the people to take stock of the situation and strive to maintain tranquillity and harmonious co-existence among various communities particularly in the Imphal valley, periphery of the foothills and all Zeliangrong inhabited territories, it added.
ZUF also informed the right thinking citizens and general public to remain alert over such communal based politics and propaganda taking advantage of the prevailing conflict.
