UNC sets deadline for lifting 144 CrPC from Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, July 19 2014 : The United Naga Council (UNC) has given five days deadline for the Government to revoke the Section 144 CrPC from Ukhrul town and also to withdraw the Manipur security force personnel from the 'Naga areas' .

The UNC said it will be compelled to take up its own course of democratic civil actions if its demands are not met within five days' time.

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister of India yesterday, the UNC demanded the Government of India's intervention for revocation of the vitiating 144 CrPC, removal of the Manipur police commandos and Manipur IRB from 'Naga areas' and for ensuring that the Government of Manipur observes the ground rules of the cease-fire in letter and spirit.

"We truly believe in democratic values and in doing so we are placing the above before your good office.

In pursuit of our democratic rights and political aspiration, we shall have no option but to take up further democratic civil actions if the above demands are not considered within 5 days time of this submission," it added.

In its memorandum, the UNC cited the recent 24-hour bandh in 'Naga areas' in Manipur in protest against the highly vitiated situation brought about by the Government of Manipur after promulgating Section 144 of Cr.

PC in Ukhrul district headquarters in the wake of the killing of one Mr Ngalangzar Malue by unidentified person on July 12."The sentiment of the Naga people on the militarization of Ukhrul town with the deployment of Manipur Police Commandos and the IRBs who are well known for their notoriety, indiscipline and disregard for human lives and rights was demonstrated loud and clear.

However, even after lapse of 5 days, the siege of Ukhrul by the communal state forces continues, disrupting normal life, social functions and church programmes, and creating a war like situation and undermining the democratic rights of the people," the Naga body stated.

According to the UNC memorandum, in the four Imphal valley districts, hundreds of innocent mainland Indian (non-Meiteis) businessmen have killed and maimed by valley based undergrounds under the very nose of the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Bombings and shootings are routine and even the Chief Minister's official residence has been attacked 3 times.

In sharp contrast to the Naga areas, the Disturbed Area Act has been conveniently lifted from 7 Assembly segments of greater Imphal.

The UNC reminded that the Nagas in Manipur have declared on July 1, 2010 the severance of political ties with the Government of Manipur due to unmistakable facts that it is impossible to protect our right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practices and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Government of Manipur.

Consequently the Government of India initiated the process of tripartite talk of the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council to address the demand for an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur, pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

In the 7th tripartite talk held on February 6, 2014 it was agreed that a high powered committee would be instituted by the Government of India to translate the demand of alternative arrangement into a political reality, it added.

The UNC memorandum said the Nagas have upheld the Indo-Naga peace process in their prayers and spirit all through the 17 long years of cease-fire and political talks.

But at every available opportunity, the Government of Manipur spares no efforts to derail the Indo-Naga peace process in the name of maintaining law and order.

The willful violation of the Cease-fire ground rules in the Ukhrul instance, when a cease-fire monitoring mechanism is in place, speaks volumes of the malafide content of the Government of Manipur's action.

A limb of the Union of India arrogantly undermines the Indo-Naga peace process, which recognizes the unique history and situation of the Naga people, the UNC missive noted.

"We therefore reiterate that the Government of India to expedite the process of intervention with an alternative arrangement, outside the Government of India pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue," it demanded.

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