Manipur’s ‘peacekeeper’ women rally to save Naga talks

Manipur's pukreilas strive to save Indo-Naga peace process amid threats of armed resistance, urging for settlement and peace.

Manipur’s golden pukreilas have a new mission after 1974 – save the “Indo-Naga peace process” that has been under stress since the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland or NSCN (I-M) threatened to return to armed resistance.

On November 8, NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah accused the Centre of betraying the “letter and spirit” of the August 2015 Framework Agreement and indicated his outfit could return to violence. This made the Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL) members underscore their traditional role as pukreilas while celebrating its golden jubilee in Ukhrul.

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The hub of the Tangkhul Naga areas straddling India and Myanmar, Ukhrul is about 80 km northeast of Manipur’s capital Imphal and about 25 km southeast of Somdal, where Mr. Muivah was born. The TSL is the apex body of Tangkhul women.

“Pukreila means peacekeeper in Tangkhul tongue. Our organisation was formed in 1974 after Border Security Force personnel raped Rose Ningshen, a 19-year-old girl from Ukhrul’s Kumbram village who committed suicide,” TSL president Thingreiphi Lungharwoshi said during a “Save the Peace” rally on Friday.

Thousands from across the Tangkhul domain, including Myanmar, participated in the rally to demand the settlement of the Naga political issue without further delay and the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the Naga homeland.

“We are tired of fighting for our rights and against the AFSPA and other oppressive measures of the government of India. Our people sacrificed a lot for peace that has been reigning in the Naga areas for almost three decades now,” Ms. Lungharwoshi told The Hindu, urging the Centre to ensure that the hard-earned peace is sustained.