Ukhrul, 23 June, 2023: Strongly condemning the act, while also cautioning the Kukis against the torching of a Naga house, the United Naga Council (UNC) said “Silence is complicit but our silence or neutrality should not be construed as weakness.”
On 18th June 2023, one Naga house belonging to MS. Akhoun, Liangmai was torched by armed Kukis at Leimakhong Chingmang.
In a press statement, UNC expressed its shock “to learn the premeditated attack on the Naga house by the armed Kukis despite of Naga House Tag being pasted on the wall and provocative action against the Nagas during this conflict and sensitive juncture.”
Mention may be made that the UNC has earlier cautioned the “two warring communities to refrain from such reckless provocation as there are chances of exacerbation of situation with the involvement of other peaceful communities who live in close proximity to each other.”
As the crisis between the two communities escalated, the Naga people have been vouching for peace in the state to restore normalcy without taking any side “but it is very unfortunate that there are frequent occurrences of incidents afflicting the Nagas in various areas from both the warring community”, UNC said.
Visiting the site on Wednesday, the Working Committee, UNC, Naga Women Union (NWU) and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) assessed the situation prevailing around the Khonsaram, (Leimakhong) Naga areas and said “such heinous crime is tantamount to a direct challenge to the Nagas at large.”
It maintained that “continuous fighting between the two communities and unrestraint provocations towards their good neighbor will not solve the problem rather it will only worsen and escalate to another level.”
Shunning of violence and sitting across the table can only bring peace and normalcy in the state, added the Naga apex body.
