As Naga groups demand justice for six civilians killed in Manipur, differences emerge over the UNC-led shutdown and calls for accountability.
Imphal, June 11: Several Naga tribal and community organisations have rallied behind the United Naga Council's (UNC) 24-hour shutdown in protest against the killing of six Naga civilians, describing it as a collective demand for justice. However, the shutdown has also exposed differences within Naga civil society, with some organisations refusing to participate and questioning the leadership decisions surrounding the hostage crisis that ended in the deaths of the six victims.
The shutdown was called by the UNC as a mark of protest and a demand for justice following the recovery of the bodies of six Naga civilians who had gone missing after being abducted during recent violence in the state's western hill districts.
Among the organisations that endorsed the shutdown was the Joint Tribes Council (JTC), Manipur, representing the Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei and Inpui communities. In a statement issued on June 11, the council said it fully supported the 24-hour total shutdown from 6 am on June 11 to 6 am on June 12 across Naga areas of Manipur.
The JTC described the shutdown as a peaceful democratic protest seeking justice for the six slain Naga men. It appealed to citizens, transport unions, businesses, educational institutions and public offices to observe the shutdown peacefully.
The council also urged all participating communities to ensure that the protest remained non-violent and that no public or private property was damaged. It further stressed that no individual should be subjected to intimidation during the observance of the shutdown.
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The JTC announced that certain essential activities would remain exempted from the shutdown, including church programmes that had already been scheduled, medical emergencies, telecommunication services, electricity-related duties, fire and emergency services, and water supply operations.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor the situation and reiterated its commitment to dialogue, peace and justice for all tribal communities in Manipur.
Support for the shutdown also came from the Coordination Committee Longmai Area (CCLA). In its endorsement statement, the committee described the six victims as "innocent Naga brothers and church pastors" and called on the public to participate in the shutdown peacefully.
The Longmai body similarly appealed to transport operators, businesses, educational institutions and government offices within the affected areas to cooperate with the protest.
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Apart from exempting church programmes and emergency services, the committee also specifically exempted examination duties from the shutdown. It called on people to remain united and continue demanding justice for the victims.
However, the shutdown call has also exposed divisions within sections of Naga civil society over the handling of the hostage crisis and the subsequent deaths of the six civilians.
In a strongly worded declaration, Katho Katamnao Long (KKL), a students' organisation based in Hungpung, Ukhrul district, announced that it would not cooperate with the shutdown directive issued by the UNC.
The organisation said it was deeply disappointed by the sequence of events that led to the release of 14 Kuki detainees while the fate of the six missing Naga civilians remained unresolved.
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According to KKL, questions remain regarding why extraordinary efforts were made to secure the release of the 14 detainees while the six missing Nagas were still unaccounted for. The organisation stated that the subsequent confirmation of the deaths of the six civilians had severely shaken public confidence.
The students' body argued that shutdowns and protest actions announced after the deaths were confirmed could not substitute accountability. It maintained that public inconvenience should not replace responsibility and called for the identification, arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killings.
Declaring non-cooperation with the shutdown, KKL stated that there would be no shutdown within the Katho area and directed that normal movement of people, vehicles, goods and essential services should continue without interruption.
The organisation further warned against any attempts to enforce the shutdown through intimidation, coercion or obstruction of public movement. It stated that any group or individual disregarding its declaration and creating disturbances within the area would do so at their own responsibility.
In one of its strongest remarks, KKL called upon the incumbent leadership of the UNC to resign and place themselves before the judgment of the Naga people. The organisation said resignation alone would not amount to accountability but argued that leaders who had lost public confidence should accept responsibility for their actions.
"Until justice is secured," the organisation stated, it would not cooperate with what it described as symbolic actions or political gestures presented as accountability.
Adding to the criticism, the Thawaijao Hungpung Young Students' Organisation (THYSO) formally endorsed KKL's declaration of non-cooperation.
In its statement, THYSO said the killing of the six Naga civilians had shaken the conscience of the Naga people and exposed what it termed serious failures in leadership and judgment.
The organisation alleged that warnings and concerns raised by sections of the Naga public during efforts to secure the return of the six missing civilians were ignored. It said the outcome had severely eroded public trust and confidence.
THYSO maintained that justice could not be achieved through shutdowns, symbolic actions or statements issued after the incident. It demanded that all perpetrators and organisations involved in the crime be brought to justice and that those responsible for decisions leading up to the tragedy answer before the Naga people.
Echoing KKL's position, THYSO declared that no shutdown would be observed within its jurisdiction.
The differing responses from Naga organisations come at a sensitive time for the community, which is mourning the deaths of the six civilians while simultaneously debating questions of accountability, leadership and the most effective way to pursue justice.
While several tribal bodies have rallied behind the UNC's shutdown call as a collective expression of grief and protest, the declarations issued by KKL and THYSO indicate growing demands within sections of Naga civil society for a deeper examination of the circumstances surrounding the hostage crisis and the events that preceded the deaths of the six civilians.
