Common future campaign continues
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 10 2015: A public discussion programme on people's movement for a common future of Manipur was held today at Nongpok Chingkhei Shanglen, Phaknung Mayai Leikai under the aegis of AMUCO, CCSK, UCM and PALEM.

Speaking at the gathering, UCM president Johnson Elangbam highlighted the growing need for the people of Manipur to stand and firm united against forces bent on disintegrating Manipur.

The political dialogue which has been dragging between Gol and NSCN-IM since 1997 has turned out to be perpetual challenge to the integrity of Manipur as the people of Manipur have never been taken on board.

NSCN-IM has scaled down their demand from Naga sovereignty to integration of Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

But Gol has not yet its position known to the people of the three States regarding the demand for Naga integration.

While maintaining that the geographical boundaries of the Northeastern States would not be affected by the political dialogue, interlocutor RN Ravi stated that something must be granted to NSCN-IM, Johnson said.

AMUCO, UCM and CCSK have met RN Ravi twice on September 10 and November 3 and it was made clear that the integrity of Manipur cannot be sacrificed under any circumstances.

It was also made clear that any political arrangement like pan-Naga cultural body which infringes upon the administrative integrity of Manipur would not be accepted.

Any solution to the protracted dialogue should be restricted within the territory of the State of Nagaland.

"In case Gol ever commits the blunder of undermining the collective interests of the people of Manipur, we must stand as one and fight collectively", Johnson asserted.

CCSK secretary general Jitendra Ningomba asserted that Manipur was there much before India took birth and its political boundary should be always kept sacrosanct.

It is a common knowledge how Manipur's resource-rich Kabow Valley was exchanged with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Neither who has learnt the policy of divide and rule from British colonial masters nor NSCN-IM which is bent on disintegrating Manipur can be trusted.

Every step they take must be watched closely.

Phulindro Konsam of AMUCO reminded about the mammoth mass rally of August 4, 1997 and the June civil movement of 2001 and what fuelled these historic events.

After greater Nagalim, Southern Nagaland, supra State and alternative arrangement, NSCN-IM has coined another term 'pan-Naga cultural body'.

In the meantime, Gol, in their efforts to appease NSCN-IM, has been scheming to grant something to the rebel outfit.

Gol may grant any political concession but it should not impinge upon the collective interests of the people of Manipur, Phulindro asserted.

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