AMUCO, UCM boycott PM, Sonia visit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 01 2011: Accusing the Government of India of persistently scheming to fragment Manipur into several pieces in addition to remaining a silent spectator when highways leading to Manipur were blockaded for more than three months, the UCM and AMUCO have decided to boycott the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chair-person Sonia Gandhi.

A joint press statement issued by AMUCO and UCM asserted that the recent move for a Supra State body was a significant step in the Government of India's relentless efforts to divide the people of Manipur into multiple groups.

After the Government of India suffered defeat at the hands of Manipuri people at one stage of the ongoing peace talk (with NSCN-IM), New Delhi deliberately made the offer for a Supra State body with a sinister design to test the wits, ideas and strength of Manipuri people.

After several rounds of peace talk were held at Kohima and Hebron in Nagaland, the Home Minister of India held a closed door meeting with UNC leaders at Senapati district headquarters recently.

This meeting clearly exposed the Government of India's agenda to disintegrate Manipur, they alleged.

Though the Government of India presented the Supra State offer after sugarcoating it with the justification "for protection of the distinct identity of Nagas", the same initiative has all the potential to ignite trouble in Manipur.

The new demand for Kuki land close on the heels of Sadar Hills district demand was already foreseen by the people of Manipur.

It reflects the weakness of both the State Government and the Government of India.

Pointing out that National Highways are the responsibility of the Central Government, UCM and AMUCO deduced from the stoic silence maintained by New Delhi when the highways were blockaded for more than three months that the blockades were imposed at the instigation of New Delhi.

The blockades started soon after Union Home Minister's visit and now the blockades have been lifted because the central leaders are coming.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi are coming to Manipur to chalk out their next repressive policy after witnessing the extreme misery endured by the people of Manipur during the more than 100 days long economic blockade.

As such, people of Manipur have all the rights to boycott their visit.

Whereas the indigenous people, guided by their belief that the future of Manipur lies in co-existence, have been bearing with all the provocations so as to keep the fraternal bond among the indigenous communities alive, the Government of India has been persistently conspiring to create distrust and misunderstanding among the indigenous communities by espousing the demand for greater Nagaland followed by the offer for Supra State body.

Citizens of the world have already learnt a bitter experience from Eastern Europe that identity politics can lead to suicidal wars and the people of Manipur have a clear understanding that co-existence is much better than killing each other.

Putting full faith in the idea of co-existence, people of Manipur have been not only patiently bearing with all the provocations and anguish but also working untiringly to strength the filial bond that the indigenous communities share.

Categorically stating that economic packages offered by New Delhi cannot bargain the fate of Manipuri people, the UCM and AMUCO lambasted the Government of Manipur's plan to ask for a new economic package from the central leaders to build a new highway while Imphal-Jiribam highway lies in the most pathetic condition.

The fate and future of Manipuri people are closely interwoven with the integrity of Manipur.

Whatever the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson would speak to the people of Manipur would be only 'sweet and soothing lies'.

Both the State Government and the Government of India must understand that the people of Manipur take the issue of Manipur's integrity more seriously than the elections held under the Government of India.

People are aware that the Government of India was only throwing flesh before fighting dogs and took the role of the proverbial monkey distributing bread between two cats during the protracted period of highway blockades.

The MPCC(I)'s statement, that the issue of Supra State body was nothing to worry about, was nothing but hoodwinking the public ahead of Central leaders' visit.

If the Government of India does not mend its ways and abandon its policy aimed at disintegrating Manipur, AMUCO and UCM have made all the preparations to launch all kinds of movement together with the people of Manipur.

They further appeal to the mass to boycott the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

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