UCM worried about recurrence of ethnic clash
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16, 2012: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has expressed serious concern about possible recurrence of Naga-Kuki clash of the early 1990s on account of the renewed campaigns for Naga integration and Kuki State being spearheaded by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) respectively.

Briefing media persons at their office this evening.

UCM president Y Nabachandra noted that the people of Nagaland are hopeful for a solution to the 15 years old political dialogue between Government of India and NSCN-IM and UCM is no less happy.

Proposed map of Nagalim and proposed Kuki State map

However, UCM would not accept any peace deal between Gol and NSCN-IM if it goes against the interest of any other community.

Whereas Manipur based UNC has been demanding an alternative arrangement for Nagas of Manipur, KSDC is vigorously pursuing a separate Kuki State.

Both the UNC and the KSDC have been blaming the valley people for denying their due shares of economic development and it is on this ground both the parties have been trying to justify their demands.

But the territorial demands being made by UNC and KSDC are overlapping.

As such, the two parallel demands have all the potential to result in a bloody confrontation.

Manipur have witnessed a number ofbandhs and blockades but it did nothing positive except misery to the mass: UCM is not an exclusive organisation for any particular community.

UCM has toured extensively to every nook and cranny of Manipur and one can notice all the signs of underdevelopment and lack of basic infrastructure a little distance away from Imphal city.

Protest demonstrations have been seen in different parts of the State, both in the valley and hills about absence or shortfalls in basic infrastructure such as roads, education, health care etc.

To address this ubiquitous problem of underdevelopment, UCM would like to sit down and work hand in hand with all civil society organisations of the State, Nabachandra stated.