TODAY -
UCM smells rat in Muivah's visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2010: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has affirmed that it would take befitting action in case NSCN (IM) leader Th Muivah's visit to manipur is intended on creating ethnic divisions and disintegrate the State.

The conglomerate organisation also demanded that State Government measure/evaluate intention of Muivah's visit and to declare its (Government) position to the general public without delay.

Speaking to newspersons at its office in Lamphelpat today, UCM president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar said if Muivah's proposed visit to his place of origin is any indication of his willingness to return to normal life, the UCM heartily welcomes the rebel leader's homecoming.

however, if the visit has any ulterior motive such as driving a wedge between the people of different communities settled in Manipur for ages, the agenda would be foiled at any cost as such an intention tantamounts to adding salt to wounds, he maintained.

Expressing that Th Muivah has every right to visit or stay in any part of Nagaland State, the UCM functionary stated that if the visit is to further the rebel outfit's agenda to extend ceasefire coverage upto manipur under the vision of uniting Naga inhabited areas of Manipur under a single administrative unit, then there is no question of remaining as a silent spectator.

He also construed that leader of an armed group announcing his proposed visit to Manipur, which is beyond the jurisdiction of the ceasefire agreement, is a clear indication that Government of India had given its approval.

Noting that over 70 rounds of talks were held between leaders of the rebel group and the Centre since 1997, Dilipkumar expressed that at many occasions during the peace parleys people of Manipur had been besieged with uncertainty due to threat posed to its territorial integrity.

Contending that State Government's inaction inspite of Th Muivah's announcement that he would visit his Ukhrul hometown on May 8 has raised a serious question of whether there is a tacit understanding regarding extension of ceasefire to Manipur, he also maintained that past incidents had also sparked suspicion that an unofficial ceasefire is being observed within the boundary of Manipur.

Citing an example that indicated unofficial extension of ceasefire to Manipur, Dilipkumar referred to the incident of IRB personnel gunning down 11 NSCN (IM) cadres and seizing their weapons at Pallel area for which Commandant of the IRB unit rusticated through 'forced retirement' rather than showered with accolades.

Moreover, the fact that many top leaders of the rebel outfit apprehended from IT road were escorted and release at Mao Gate inspite of being briefly detained at Imphal police headquarters is another vivid indication of the State Government's weakness and approval to the ceasefire extension, the UCM president pointed.

He also recounted inaction by the State authorities against those individuals whose had the audacity to put up a banner inscribed 'welcome to south nagaland' when the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh visited Senapati district headquarters for a congress party conference some year back.

He also mentioned confrontation between NSCN (IM) cadres and Assam Rifles troops at an Ukhrul district area and a team of Ministers unveiling a memorial stone which had the name of a kilonser of the outfit as recent examples of the State Government's incompatibility and failure to understand sentiment of the people.

Reminding that several people laid down their lives for the sake of Manipur's territorial and emotional integrity, the UCM leader cautioned that spontaneous uprising of the people as was witnessed in the recent past could not be ruled out in the near future.





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