RK Meghen pooh-poohs meaningless peace talk
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Guwahati, November 08 2012: UNLF Chairman RK Meghen alias Sanayaima and 17 other arrested cadres of the outfit were produced today before the NIA special court Guwahati.

No witnesses were produced today.

Another arrested cadre, N Dilip alias Ebochou alias Mani, could not be produced in the NIA special court as he is undergoing treatment in a hospital.

Interacting with mediapersons while coming out of the court, Meghen observed that after more than 15 years' peace talks with the Government of India, NSCN-IM which were fighting for sovereignty of the Nagas has come down to the demand for integration of Naga inhabited areas in Northeastern states within the ambit of Indian Constitution.

"The ploy that the Indian Government is making is nothing but to divert and transform the conflict that has been there with the people of Western Southeast Asian (WESIA) into an ethnic conflict among the people of the region", Meghen said.

UNLF Chairman RK Meghen

Calling for unity among the Western Southeast Asian (WESIA) people for development of the region, UNLF Chairman observed that in a multi- community region, the idea of peace cannot be achieved without having considering the collateral damages of the secondary conflict that emerges out of the "meaningless peace process" .

Meghen maintained that an agreement might be carried out with one community but it will not serve even the basic social problem and relation with the neighbouring communities in the region could not be attained.

He further said that WESIA needs and should co-exist with interdependence and for co-development together.

"NSCN-IM's lone peace talk with the Indian Government will only deteriorate the unity and strength in the region and shall even bring misunderstanding amongst WESIANs", Meghen said, while observing that this peace talk has even brought chaos within the state of Nagaland and that the demand of alternative arrangement in Manipur for certain ethnic community shall not succeed and bring peace in the state.

Meghen went on to point out that people inhabiting in hills and valley of Manipur are of same soil and they need to understand the interdependence of each other.

People residing in the valley also need to take the historical responsibility of reaching out to the people in the hills.

"Simply voicing out the call of unity is lame voice", he said.

"There is equal right for self identity and at the same time there is right to respect other identities which cannot be deprived of", he added.

A team of lawyers led by H Chandrajit Sharma, who are defending counsels of Meghen and other alleged co-accused were also present for cross examination of the prosecution witnesses.