Manipur Crisis and Naga Politics Interview with L. Adani Mao

Mizzima 'Military repression and action will not solve the Manipur problem. their history, The government cannot eradicate all those who have clear views on national identity and rights.' L. ADANI MAO is a veteran Naga civil society leader from Manipur based in Dimapur. He has been active in Naga politics and human rights activism in Manipur since his student days when he worked in the Allies of Manipur Naga Students (ANSAM) from 1984-86. He is a chief minister in Senapati district on the Nagaland-Manipur borderHe is a member of the Memei Naga / Mao Naga tribe. Al-Adani joined the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and was based in Guwahati from 1989 to 2008. He quit his permanent job to devote his life to finding a political solution to the complex Indo-Naga conflict. In 2011, he was elected as the president of the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur. He served from 2011 to 2014. During his tenure as chairman, he participated in the India-Naga peace process. especially UNC; Tripartite agreement between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Manipur State Government gParticipated in warm-ups. Al Adani was appointed to a 51-member committee set up by the central government to help restore peace and security in the province. Known for his quiet diplomatic approach and mature understanding of the complexities of the political situation, Al Adani helped resolve the most recent hostage crisis that began on May 13, 2026. He recently arrived in Delhi with a UNC team to discuss the situation in Manipur. Although he did not speak directly about the hostage crisis, Nandita Ha(ksar) covers many issues raised during the Manipur violence. Q – Adani, Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview at such a difficult and stressful time. The Naga group, which includes more than 30 tribes, has come together and is fighting to unify the areas where the Naga people live under one administration. Among the ethnic groups and tribes living in the Northeast region, the Nagas became part of India on August 14, 1947.They started the revolution first. Over time, the Naga Student Federation, Naga Hoho and UNC, which represents the Nagas of Manipur, have sprung up as a number of Naga national organizations. They worked together on the same tribal platform. Since around 2020, the Naga people refer to themselves as 'indigenous or native'.I opened it and used it. I am referring to organizations such as the Federation of Haomee and the Native People's Committee. This raises the very difficult question of whether citizenship should be based on 'indigenization'. This request has ramifications as far as Manipur. How to differentiate between outsider and indigenous person in Manipur situation?? Can non-indigenous people be denied citizenship? Answer - Before India's independence, This means that before August 15, 1947, the first settlers or indigenous communities lived on the land that would now become the state of Manipur for centuries. Citizenship cannot be based solely on being an indigenous person; I agree that it shouldn't be based on that. In accordance with the specified rules and regulationsAnyone can become a citizen if the reasons for applying for citizenship are correct. In Manipur's case, post-independence India bypassing formal procedures to obtain citizenship, especially illegal migrants crossing the India-Myanmar border, have increased in numbers over the years and overwhelmed communities that have lived in the area for centuries. Land ownership issues, cultural traditions, Demographic changes that upset the balance of power and opportunity and inter-community relations became involved. These feelings and concerns are real and have been faced in the state for the past four decades. The Naga people generally do not move their villages and have settled in their ancestral lands for centuries. The Meiteis people of the valley region also have a similar concept of ancestral territory. It lasted for many yearsWhen the existing tradition is forcibly invaded, anxiety, fear, There will be a natural reaction in the form of disbelief and alienation. Considering these vulnerabilities and contexts, in the context of Manipur, outsiders have to be distinguished from indigenous people. Q – How do you define the role of UNC? How did you deal with problems during your tenure as UNC president? Ans – UNC is the highest level specialized organization representing all the Naga tribes in Manipur. It is not an NGO and not like other social organizations. But it is a unique form of representation based on tribal customs and practices of Naga society. UNC is our national identity, to maintain the unity and unity of the Naga people. history, to protect land and natural resources; Our cultural heritage and our village, To preserve and promote the democracy of republics; To achieve a fair and harmonious society for all human beings. To protect human rights and the nationIt was formed to cultivate a spirit of brotherhood and peace among all. To illustrate how UNC has dealt with complex political situations, let me give you an example from when I was UNC president. The second Indo-Naga peace process began in 1997 (the first was in the sixties) with a ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the Indian government. As a show of goodwill, the Indian government sent NSCN General Secretary Th. Muivah to Manipur State. He is from Ukhrul district