Appalling conditions in Naga Hills Region under Burmese junta

by Ring Aung
Kachin News Group

A majority of the Naga, estimated to be about four million live on the Indian side, in Nagaland. The Naga in Burma is in the minority with an estimated population of over 200,000.

The Naga in Burma live in Homemalin Township, Khamthi Township, Leshi Township, Lahe Township, Namyun Township and Pangsau sub-township of Sagaing division and Shing Bwe Yang sub-township in Kachin State.

The people in the Naga Hills Region under the Burmese military junta have never got favours from the regime. Their neglect by the junta is appalling. Some of these people are forcibly recruited into the army. Their religious practices are controlled by the Burmese authorities.

After 1990, there has been religious persecution in the Naga Hills Region. Since the majority of Naga people are Christians, the Burmese military regime has been planning to develop the region under the military. The Buddhist religious organizations are keen on persuading the Naga people to convert to Buddhism.

In some villages, the Burmese junta has been burning churches. The people have been ordered by the Burmese authorities to convert to Buddhism and are being threatened by the authorities. Villagers who don’t want to change their religion have to run away from their villages.

According to locals in the Naga region, the people tried to negotiate with the Burmese authorities to stop the religious persecution in the region twice in the past, but there has been no progress. The situation is said to be bad.

In every village in the Naga region, the population is half Buddhist and half Christians. The Burmese regime has built temples in a village and put in place fake monks.

Monks staying at a temple in a village are imposters. They are just pretending to be monks. If there are 10 monks in a temple, half of them are soldiers. Some carry guns.

All the monks receive financial assistance and food. Normally, they get 60,000 Kyat (US $ 59) per month. They also receive rice but they sell the rice to for money. Because villagers donate food to them, they can afford to sell the rice, said a local.

All Christian churches in the region have to register with the Burmese authorities and it is mandatory to put up the registration sign board on top of their church.

Being Christians in the region they have to struggle a lot and the Burmese authorities even beat up Christian missionaries who graduated from India. They are not allowed to carry out any mission in the region, a local added.

Because of poor transportation and road communication, the children from the region can’t afford to go to school. Most villages have only a primary school and if the children want to go to middle or high school, they have to study in the township. Children who have finished primary school cannot go for higher studies. They help their parents in farming.

On the other hand, the Burmese Army forcibly recruits youngsters including those under18 years of age.

According to local people from Shing Bwe Yang Township, in September 2007, the Burmese Army recruited over 80 people into the armed forces. They were from the Shing Bwe Yang Township.

Ring Aung is a staff reporter of Kachin News Group (KNG).

Naga Reconciliation turns to People Power

A section of the elders and citizens in attendance during the meeting with the Forum for Naga Reconciliation in Mokokchung, January 26. (Morung Photos)

Dimapur : The quest for Naga reconciliation as initiated and led by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has reached a turning point with the forum’s members undertaking the arduous task of traveling to various districts to solicit response, advice and feedback of the public.

A five-member team of the forum led by its convener Rev. Dr. Wati Aier and including Rev. Pughoto Aye, Toshi Wungtung, Dr. N Venuh and Nepuni Piku visited Wokha and Mokokchung January 24 and 25th respectively.  Separate meetings with apex tribal bodies, student and women leaders of the two districts were held. Public leaders, elders and women of both the Ao and Kyong tribes raised several questions and debated on issues pertaining to the Naga movement and reconciliation.

However, at the end on the day, the forum gained the trust and confidence of the people of the two districts. While extending fullest support to the reconciliation process, Kyong Hoho president Yansethung Jami summed up the opinion of the Kyongs on reconciliation: Nagas are one and that there should be only one Naga “government”. Similarly, outgoing Ao Senden president Temjenkaba who presided over the Mokokchung meeting requested the forum to design a “broad political framework” and present it to the various Naga underground groups.

Both the apex women bodies of the Kyongs (Kyong Eloe Hoho) and Aos (Watsu Mundang) also assured to continually pray for success of the reconciliation movement and that the endeavor of the forum would not  go in vain.
In both the meetings, the forum members highlighted its objectives and the importance of people’s involvement in the reconciliation process.  “The Naga issue is like a jigsaw puzzle; even a small piece is needed to complete the whole. Likewise everybody’s contribution is needed. Your wisdom, moral and spiritual support towards the reconciliation process is a must,” said Rev. Dr. Wati Aier.
Rev. Wati said the reconciliation move was based on the “historical and political rights of the Nagas” as well as from the Christian perspective. Assuring that there were no strings attached, he said reconciliation did not mean “unification or merger” and that it has no windows or doors.
He further clarified that the role of forum was limited to facilitating the reconciliation process. “Our aim is not to get involved or entangled with status of solution. That is up to the public and national workers. After reconciliation process, political nomenclature will come in which Forum for Naga Reconciliation will not have any role,” the forum’s convener said.
Also, Rev. Pughoto Aye said the Naga public is the ultimate authority to decide on reconciliation, while Toshi Wungtung said the protraction of the Naga issue was destroying the Nagas and that reconciliation was the key to “unlock the difficulties” to Naga unity and solution. “We have to be honest and sincere ourselves while facilitating underground groups to come together,” Dr. Venuh added.
Public leaders and elders of Wokha raised several issues and there was an exchange of ideas among the forum members and public. Nepuni Piku thanked the public for sharing their views and offering valuable insights and suggestions to forum. On January 26 at Mokokchung town, Rev. Wati Aier and Rev. Pughoto Aye also addressed the congregation of Ao Baptist and Sumi Baptist Church respectively.