In a gesture of peace, Naga government officials paid a tribute to the late Meitei leader C. Akaba who worked to pacify the communities’ relations.

Below are extracts from an article published by Kangla Online:

The […] Government of the People`s Republic of Nagalim, GPRN, paid rich tributes to the late assassinated Meitei leader Chingsubam Akaba for his attachment and understanding of the hill people.

A release by the organization said although from the Meitei community Akaba was known for his attachment to the hill people from childhood.

He built Churches at Hongman, Phungyar and Khonjel villages as head mistry and have even walked from Phungyar village to Ukhrul and then to Imphal, it said adding Akaba`s home in Imphal is a home to the hill people especially the Nagas.

During the heydays of the NNC/FGN, he came to Chedema Peace camp with Pabung Tomba of Keibi and exchanged views with Naga leaders like Kughato Sukhai, Imkongmeren Ao, R Suisa, Z Ramyo and others, the release said calling the deceased leader a man of plain living and high thinking.

The release further said Akaba was above Meitei chauvinism and was farsighted. He is known to have stated openly before his death that the Nagas have every right to be independent.

The release said Meiteis should not disturb this right and the Nagas should also respect the political right of the Meiteis and as Akaba suggested it is high time for both the Nagas and Meiteis to think very seriously of the nature of future relationship between the two.

Akaba has been seeking for a chance to interact with the collective leadership of the NSCN even if it had to be in a foreign country to discuss on mutual respect and relations the Meiteis and Nagas should have, the release said.

Before he was assassinated senselessly, such a meeting had already been tentatively scheduled, the release further said, condemning the killing of what it claims to be the most advanced political thinker among the Meitei community of today.

The hopes of the hills and plain people have been blurred with the death of such a man, but not lost altogether, the release said. It will however be very difficult to find someone capable of filling in the vacuum left by his demise, it added.

His farsighted political dream is exemplified in his will that according to which his mortal remains were buried at Leimaching of Nongmaiching after ritual rites of the Meiteis as approved by his Highness the Maharaja, it said.