Common future meet rolls on
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 15 2015: AMUCO, CCSK and UCM in association with different youth clubs and Meira Paibee bodies organised a discussion session on people's movement for a common future of Manipur at Palace compound today.

Titular king of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba presided over the discussion session attended by the executives of different civil society organisations as presidium members.

UCM president Johnson Elangbam while speaking at the occasion said that people are apprehensive about the possible disintegration of Manipur consequent upon the framework agreement inked between Government of India and NSCN (IM) on August 3 last.

People must strongly oppose any solution based on a pan-Naga cultural body as it is tantamount to sowing seed for disintegration of Manipur, he observed.

It is known to everybody that NSCN (IM) wanted to achieve Naga integration through the ceasefire agreement signed in 1997, he said.

Branding Manipur Government as a Meitei communal Government is part of the effort to achieve this objective, Johnson said.

He further said that some sections of the people are putting in effort to show to the world that the majority community has been suppressing the Nagas in Manipur although it is not right.

It is a fact that most of the hill areas of Manipur are underdeveloped due to topographic constraints.

However, it is wrong to propagate that majority community suppresses minorities, Johnson pointed out.

As such, AMUCO, CCSK and UCM had asked Naga peace talks interlocutor RN Ravi not to empower Nagas alone.

All the tribal communities must be equally considered for development, he said.

On the other hand, Manipur Government must not be superceded while considering the issues of any community of the State, said the UCM executive.

He further said that it was unfortunate to oppose the three Bills passed by the State Assembly without pointing out the points which go against the interest of the hill people.

Johnson alleged that people's movement to oppose the three Bills was instigated by a handful of vested interest individuals.

Taking part at the discussion session, CCSK president Arjun Telheiba said that the demand for retention to the status of pre-merger agreement can be made to GoI if people sense any threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur due to the present peace talks between GoI and NSCN (IM) .

Saying that during merger agreement, GoI promised Manipur to provide many benefits, Arjun Telheiba said that these benefits could be demanded from GoI now.

He opined that people need to deliberate on the means to fight the threats, which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, politically and legally.

Arjun Telheiba said that RN Ravi told them that ADC empowerment which is mentioned in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution would be considered.

Saying that TN Ravi is likely to visit the State in the last week of this month again, Arjun Telheiba said that Ravi had signalled that GoI would find a way out to resolve the Naga issue soon.

On the other hand, he said, NSCN (IM) leader RH Raising had said that 'shared sovereignty' was included as one of the points in the August 3 framework agreement.

Raising had also said that Nagas and GoI would maintain every component of administration separately, however, they would fight the external agresssions together, Arjun said.

AMUCO advisor Dr Dhanabir Laishram said that GoI and NSCN (IM) try to build a virtual wall in Manipur.

However, they must understand that another Berlin wall can't be erected in the State, he said.

Dr Dhanabir further observed that future of the people of Manipur is bleak if any effort which tries to divide people is not annihilated on time.

Questioning why NSCN (IM) is planning to recruit 4000 cadres, Dr Dhanabir speculated whether GoI is planning to extract the natural resources of Manipur by asking NSCN (IM) to guard the hill areas of the State.

Saying that resorting to verbal war among people of different communities would not serve any purpose, Dr Dhanabir urged them to safeguard the natural resources of Manipur.

Mahabali Kabui Khullakpa Aphun Kamei, All Manipur Muslim Development Organisation president Sitara Begum, Kuki Women's Union president Rose Mangshi Haokip, OBS president Ningthoujam Chaoba, Palace Compound Youth Welfare Club president Sagolsem Nipamacha and Sana Konung Meira Paibi president Sagolsem Taruni also attended the discussion session as presidium members.

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