UNC gears up for AA meeting today
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Senapati, June 20 2014 :
All eyes are on the outcome of the United Naga Council (UNC) meeting scheduled to be held on June 21 at Senapati district headquarters to review and study thoroughly the Alternative Arrangement demanded by the 'Nagas in Manipur'.
Tribe leaders from different districts have started arriving at Senapati town today for the meeting.
Meanwhile, if need be, the UNC may go for a concerted mass movement to press for an Alternative Arrangement, said a well placed source today.
"However, all the Naga tribe representatives in Manipur along with the UNC will chalk out the next line of action after a thorough discussion on the matter," confided another source.
On May 6 at Mao Gate, UNC president L Adani had said that the Government of India would place a "special committee" or high level committee to examine the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur after the 16th Lok Sabha election process is over.
It can be recalled here that on February 6, the United Naga Council (UNC)'s demand for the 'Alternative Arrangement' for the Nagas of Manipur was elevated to a 'political level' .
The 7th round 'tripartite talks' involving the Government of India, the Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council (UNC) was held at Senapati on February 6, 2014.That day's development was significant because the previous six rounds were mere meetings of UNC leaders with the bureaucrats which left the Naga body dissatisfied and peeved.
The UNC had expressed that the February 6 talk was a cordial one although no concrete decision was arrived at.
Regarding the February 6 talks, Shambhu Singh, Home Secretary (NE- in Charge), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) led the Government of India's delegation.
The ministerial team of the Manipur Government was led by Govindas Konthoujam, Industries minister.
Francis Ngajokpa, minister Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and N.Biren, MLA.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council acknowledges the cooperation and solidarity of the general public in ensuring the successful observation of 48 hours total bandh in Nagas areas from the midnight of June 16, 2014 .
"We congratulate the frontal organisations, tribe hohos, students' unions and youth organisations for effectively taking up ownership of the protest programme and also exercising outmost restraint to make it peaceful and violence free," said the UNC note today.
According to the UNC, the protest bandh was a clear message to the world that the Nagas in Manipur are determined to secure their political aspiration for an alternative arrangement outside the communal Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.
"With the continued and unstinted participation of the Naga people we will to take forward the people's movement till our aspiration is achieved," the UNC added.