UNC serves ultimatum on 'Alternative Arrangement' to GoI
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, October 03 2011: Taking serious note of the stalled "Tripartite Talks" on the issue of "Alternative Arrangement," the United Naga Council (UNC) has issued an ultimatum to the Government of India for an early intervention by October 19 .

In an official communication with the GoI, the UNC had submitted a "concept paper" on September 29 and urged "the GoI to initiate the process of intervention with an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur for the Nagas in Manipur within 20 days" .

The UNC's communiqu� with the New Delhi was facilitated after the latter's request for the "concept paper" for the consideration of the GoM, and was reportedly the first after the three rounds of "Tripartite Talks" .

The apex Naga body is apparently peeved with the GoI's silent stance since the last round of "Tripartite Talks," which resulted in categorical rejection of the former's demand by both the Centre and the State government.

In a press statement the UNC warned that "�should the same (demand) be not forthcoming, the Nagas will have no option but to revert back to sustained agitation till our demand for an alternative arrangement is met.

This stand has been taken because the demand for alternative arrangement cannot be a matter of consideration by the GoM and to urge for an early intervention by the GoI" .

Further, it asserted "When the tripartite talk of the Government of Manipur, Government of India(GoI) and the Nagas in Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council(UNC) was initiated by the Hon'ble Home Minister of India in September 2010, the agitation programme launched by the Nagas in Manipur to demand for the intervention of the GoI with an alternative arrangement outside the GoM was withdrawn as a confidence building measure for all concerned" .

However, the Naga body argued that after more than one year of submission of the memorandum in demand for alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur and three rounds of tripartite talk, there has been no forward movement in addressing the core issue of the demand.

It also alleged that the democratic process of dialogue has been subjected to the comfort, approach and position of the communal GoM.

On the current situation in Manipur, the UNC expressed concerns on the fragile, sensitive and delicate situation have "grave potential for communal confrontation and violence which could possibly lead to catastrophic consequences" .

"The democratic process of tripartite talk had kept in check the injured sentiments of the Nagas in Manipur with the expectation of a peaceful negotiation.

But now the Nagas are of the considered view that nothing positive can come out of the tripartite talk.

But the suppression and exploitation of the Nagas in particular and the tribals in general by the communal GoM cannot be allowed to continue any further," it stated.

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