Orgns make stand clear on Naga issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 10 2015 : Representatives of civil society organisations on Thursday met Government of India Interlocutor RN Ravi and made their stance clear with regard to positions on the ongoing peace process between the Government of India and National Socialist Council of Nagalim or the NSCN (IM) .

In a memorandum submitted to RN Ravi, the representatives of the civil society organisations said that the people of Manipur have "every right to know" the entire peace process going on between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) that might "directly or indirectly affect Manipur's historical and political status" .

The organisations also asked the Government of India to "produce a white paper" on the peace process with NSCN (IM) from 1997 onwards and also the details of the frame work agreement signed on August 3 between the Government of India and NSCN (IM).

The Government of India should respect the "distinctive identity and political status of Manipur and its multicultural pluralistic society based on the principles of co-existence and communal harmony while ensuring integrity of its body-polity", said the memorandum submitted to RN Ravi.

It also asserted that the political aspirations and socio-economic advancement of all the ethnic communities of Manipur should be ensured and protected within the administrative jurisdiction of Manipur.

Making its stance clear, the memorandum pointed out that any cultural and administrative arrangement on the basis of ethnicity is "unacceptable" as it is equivalent to "communal and sectarian demarcation of aspirations and voices of smaller communities in Manipur" .

Having emphasised their points, the civil society organisations also acknowledged and extended solidarity to the struggles and sacrifices of the Naga people and the same is expected from the people of Nagaland to the people of Manipur.

The memorandum was signed by United Committee, Manipur (UCM) President Johnson Elengbam, All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) President Dr Y Mani Khuman and Committee of Civil Societies (CCS) President P Arjun.

Comment