Naga ceasefire

Sir, - I have been travelling in the northeast for the past 12 years, and I am not at all surprised at the spontaneous and violent agitation following the Government's decision to extend the Naga ceasefire to other areas under pressure from Mr. T. Muivah.

Mr. Muivah was recently jailed by the Thai authorities for travelling under false passport. However his godfathers, the Western powers, intervened and got him released. The same powers are putting pressure on the Government to accept their puppet's demands which the Government is bending backwards to concede. Mr. Muivah asserts that if the Nagas (of Manipur, etc.) want to join their brothers there is nothing wrong.

Manipur people follow two religions. The majority of them are Vaishnavites and others worship ancient Meitei gods but both the groups are very proud of their culture and history. Before the advent of the British, Manipur State had a large area with the present day Myanmar under its control. On the other hand, the word Naga never existed before the advent of the missionaries in the region. In fact, Mr. Muivah's Nagas have a short history of about a hundred years.

Since Independence, Britain and the U.S. have been actively aiding the Naga rebels. Their long-term strategy is to separate the petroleum-rich northeast from India.

Natranjan A. Wala,

Chital, Gujarat

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : For congenial relations
Next     : Lift ban on LTTE