Apex CSOs host pol discourse
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 31 2015 : A one-day political discourse on the peace accord signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM was held today at Indian Medical Association (IMA) hall, Lamphelpat here under the aegis of AMUCO, CCSK and UCM.

The political discourse was jointly presided by AMUCO president Dr Y Mani Khu-man, CCSK president Advocate P Arjun and UCM president Johnson Elangbam.

Although representatives of seven political parties and leaders of several civil society organisations were present at the convention, Indian National Congress and Naga People's Front stayed away from the discourse.

Giving key-note address of the discourse, UCM general secretary YK Dhiren said that the three CSOs have been organising a series of such public and political discourses in collaboration with many other like-minded CSOs with a view to study collectively the possible impacts of the framework agreement on Manipur's future and at the same time consolidate unity among different ethnic communities.

CSO leaders attend the political convention

The framework agreement signed on August 3 this year between GoI and NSCN-IM after the two parties signed a cease fire pact in 1997 only multiplied people's anxiety apart from diversifying people's speculations about possible solutions.

Today's discourse is specifically organised for different political parties so that they can put forward their positions clearly to public on the vexed issue, Dhiren said.

Speaking on behalf of CPI Manipur State Council, L Sotinkumar asserted that the party would oppose any political manoeuvre to disintegrate Manipur just as Lamyanba Irabot opposed and rejected the idea of creating Purvanchal Pradesh.

He suggested that peasants and workers should also be invited to such crucial conventions.

As the contents of the framework agreement are still kept a closely guarded secret, it is only natural for the people to make different speculations about the agreement's possible impacts on the integrity of Manipur.

Pointing out that both the hills and the valley are inalienable parts of Manipur, Sotinkumar declared that CPI would never remain silent to any challenges to the integrity of Manipur.

NCP State secretary Y Iboyaima remarked that the term 'Naga accord' is a misnomer as the agreement was signed between GoI and NSCN-IM, not with all the Naga communities.

As the State of Manipur was never consulted or given any information by either of the two parties before the agreement was signed, the State need not interfere.

But any challenge to the integrity of Manipur should be fought back in befitting manner.

NCP would never shy away from joining any mass movement which is basically aimed at safeguarding the integrity of Manipur, Iboyaima said.

MPP Youth Front president Machang Soibam said that the foremost agenda of MPP is safeguarding the integrity of Manipur.

MPP would never accept any attempt of GoI to appease NSCN-IM by re-drawing the political boundary of Manipur.

Political leaders of India have been following a divide and rule policy which they inherited from British colonial rulers.

This has negated the very essence of democracy, Machang asserted.

JD-U Manipur president M Tombi, BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesman Prof S Tiken, CPI-M State Secretariat member Ksh Shanta and All India Forward Bloc State general secretary Khomdram Gyaneshore too spoke at the convention.