UCM seeks clarification from New Delhi, cites 2001 assurance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 26 2020: Reacting to the claim of NSCN-IM that then Chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) Lt Gen (retd) RV Kulkarni in his letter (dated 06.02.2007) to Naveen Verma, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India approved Khangkhui-Shirui forest area as NSCN-IM designated camp, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has sought an unambiguous clarification from New Delhi.

If the NSCN-IM's claim is true, then the UCM would be constrained to declare that the Government of India has been deceiving the people of Manipur all these years.

If the Government of India opts to double-deal NSCN-IM and the people of Manipur instead of coming out with an unambiguous clarification, New Delhi would face a very difficult situation in the face of people's collective wrath, warned a statement issued by UCM.

In the aftermath of the historic people's movement of June 2001, the then Prime Minister made an announcement to all the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States.

What the Indian Prime Minister announced then is still fresh in the memory of UCM.

It then quoted a news report published in The Sangai Express on July 28, 2001, "New Delhi, July 27: The Centre tonight decided to restrict the ceasefire with NSCN-IM to Nagaland and not extend it to other North Eastern States in the wake of continuing violent opposition in Manipur.

"Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told a meeting of Chief Ministers of North Eastern States that the words 'without territorial limits' in the agreement reached between the Centre and the NSCN-IM on June 14 would be deleted and the status quo ante of June 14 would be restored.

"Announcing this, Home Minister LK Advani said Government representatives have already discussed the issue with NSCN-IM which was agreeable to the proposal.

"The over two-hour long meeting was attended by Manipur Governor Ved Marwah and Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi (Assam), Manik Sarkar (Tripura), Zoramthanga (Mizoram), Mukut Mithi (Arunachal Pradesh), EK Mawlang (Meghalaya) and SC Jamir (Nagaland).

"Advani, who refused to reply to questions, said the Prime Minister discussed the issue with all the Chief Ministers and decided that the three words 'without territorial limits' would be deleted and status quo ante of June 14 would be restored", the UCM cited.

The Government of India only exposed its utter arrogance by letting NSCN-IM open its designated camp on the soil of Manipur in total suppression of the assurance it gave to the people of Manipur in 2001 in full view of the whole world, asserted the UCM.

The UCM will never forget such deceitful nature of the Government of India and it will give a befitting reply as and when the time is right, it vowed.

The existing camp of NSCN-IM's Phungtha Brigade in Kamjong district too contravenes the official announcement made by the Government of India in 2001.As such, the Government of India should ensure that the camp is shifted out of Manipur otherwise it would become a strong source of conflict between the people of Manipur and the Government of India, UCM said.

All these years, the Government has been maintaining that there is no camp of NSCN-IM in Manipur.

If the Government still chooses to remain silent when the presence of NSCN-IM camps has been announced by the rebel outfit itself, the people of Manipur and the UCM would not remain mute, it said.

Some people may be thinking it is not timely to raise the issue in view of the COVID-19 pandemic but the way the Government of India deceived and betrayed the people of Manipur all these years will have a very devastating consequence.

The UCM was putting faith in the announcement made by the Prime Minister on July 27, 2001 but the Government of India was deceiving the people of Manipur for 19 long years.

"There may come a time when we won't be ever able to keep an iota of faith in Indian leaders if the Government of India continues with its trickery any longer", the UCM warned.

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