Focus on the flip flop stand of the UNC Fate of the 6 Naga men ?
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The focus right now, at the moment, is not whether the 14 Kuki people should be released or not but rather on the flip flop stand of the United Naga Council (UNC). It is also a question on the maturity and wisdom of UNC. In one sweeping statement, the UNC made it known to the world that they have a big say in deciding the fate of the 14 Kuki people while on the other hand, the Kuki Inpi, Manipur steered clear of all ‘moral responsibility’ in claiming that all the abducted Naga people have been released and they have no idea on where the six Naga men are. In first announcing that the 14 Kuki people would be released and then backtracking a few hours later only to say that they would not be freed, the UNC threw itself open to be interpreted in some significant ways. Call it a politically sound move or naivety but it stands that while the UNC attempted to strike a morally right position by announcing that the Kuki people would be released, it also exposed itself to the possibility of being interpreted as a body with ‘knowledge’ about keeping the said Kuki people in captivity. This is a possibility that would not have escaped the observation of many here in Manipur and certainly not the intelligence agencies. It is precisely this reason why the focus of many suddenly shifted from the missing Kuki men to the stand of the UNC, a stand which changed within a couple of hours and the focus would inevitably involve questioning the integrity of the largest Naga organisation in Manipur. For the moment, the no release of the Kuki men stands, but this would not have done the image of the UNC any good. A point which the leadership of the UNC should acknowledge. A morally right step it was to announce that the Kuki people would be released, but politically suspect it would sound, for in rolling back this decision following the immense pressure mounted by the Naga people, it is more than clear that the first decision of the UNC was unilateral. The 14 Kuki people were rounded up from Senapati side, after news of the abduction of 18 Naga people, including the 6 Naga men did the round and it became more and more clear that the issue had snowballed into one which involves people on either side. An issue over which no single organisation should ideally have the final say. A truism which unfortunately seemed to have blown over the consciousness of the UNC leadership. ‘At least show us that the six Naga men are still alive,’ is the line adopted by many Naga social organisations and this is absolutely logical given that the said men were taken captive on May 13, 2026. And surely a line the UNC cannot answer to.
Asking the Government to act and deliver results is like shooting in the dark now and this is where organisations like the UNC need to take the Naga people into confidence. The protest that erupted the moment the UNC decided to release the Kuki men should tell a significant story. Morally and legally right to release the Kuki men, this is a truism, but the reality says that striking a morally right stand has not really jelled with the reality, a reality that keeps changing with each incident. Where did morality stand when organisations like Kuki Inpi, Manipur has had no compunction in cooking up such fantastic tales as ‘all the abducted Naga people have been released and we have no knowledge about the six Naga men ?’ A question which must still haunt the family members of the 6 Naga men and this is where the significance of the line, if the said Naga men are still alive, then at least show some examples that they are. A line maintained by many Naga organisations, other than the UNC. As stated many times earlier in this column, if the six Naga men are still alive, well and good but if they are not, the question hangs on whether they would be added to the list of ‘missing persons’. Only the different Kuki organisations, including the Kuki Inpi, Manipur can answer this, and all the more reason for Naga organisations including the UNC to persist with the question, ‘where are the six Naga men who were abducted at Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13.’ Let the Kuki organisations answer this. Questions may also be raised on the follow up action after the arrest of four Kuki men who were hauled up ostensibly in connection with the abduction of the Naga people including the 6 Naga men.
Asking the Government to act and deliver results is like shooting in the dark now and this is where organisations like the UNC need to take the Naga people into confidence. The protest that erupted the moment the UNC decided to release the Kuki men should tell a significant story. Morally and legally right to release the Kuki men, this is a truism, but the reality says that striking a morally right stand has not really jelled with the reality, a reality that keeps changing with each incident. Where did morality stand when organisations like Kuki Inpi, Manipur has had no compunction in cooking up such fantastic tales as ‘all the abducted Naga people have been released and we have no knowledge about the six Naga men ?’ A question which must still haunt the family members of the 6 Naga men and this is where the significance of the line, if the said Naga men are still alive, then at least show some examples that they are. A line maintained by many Naga organisations, other than the UNC. As stated many times earlier in this column, if the six Naga men are still alive, well and good but if they are not, the question hangs on whether they would be added to the list of ‘missing persons’. Only the different Kuki organisations, including the Kuki Inpi, Manipur can answer this, and all the more reason for Naga organisations including the UNC to persist with the question, ‘where are the six Naga men who were abducted at Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13.’ Let the Kuki organisations answer this. Questions may also be raised on the follow up action after the arrest of four Kuki men who were hauled up ostensibly in connection with the abduction of the Naga people including the 6 Naga men.