UNC calls 48 hrs bandh against 'quite hazy' remark
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2013: Taking strong exception to the Joint Secretary (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs Shambhu Singh's remark that the demand for an Alternative Arrangement is 'quite hazy', the UNC has called a 48 hour total bandh on NH 37 with effect from the midnight of December 12 .

A statement issued by the UNC conveyed that it felt necessary to register strong protest against the statement of Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI that the demand for an Alternative Arrangement is "quite hazy" and that the matter of upgrading the Alternative Arrangement talk to a political level has been left to the State Government to resolve with the UNC.

While the dialogue process is kept "quite hazy" by such officials, the policies of the alleged communal Government of Manipur (GoM) to usurp the land of the Nagas and tribal continues unabated.

The assertion of the Zeliangrong Youth Front to protect the land of Nagas and opposition to slicing of huge chunk of land to create Jiribam district has the support and endorsement of the Naga people, it claimed.

After the submission of the postulates of the demand for an Alternative Arrangement in the 31st August, 2012 tripartite talk at New Delhi and also after having attended all the 6 rounds of talks, Shambhu Singh still disrespectfully maintains that it is "quite hazy" .

Instead of facilitating a sense of direction in the democratic process of dialogue, Shambhu Singh, who represents GoI, is creating confusion for reasons best known to himself.

It was the general agreement in the 6th round of talk held at Delhi on the 30th August, 2013 that the talk process would be upgraded to the political level and Shambhu himself requested for a two month period for convening the next round of talk.

The Nagas in Manipur did not request for a tripartite talk.

"We wanted GoI to intervene with an Alternative Arrangement outside the GoM.

GoI initiated the tripartite talk process on the Alternative Arrangement demand.

The GoI representative, the facili-tator in the dialogue has now asked the GoM, the respondent, to resolve the matter of political upgradation of the talk process with the Nagas, the petitioner.

This is absurd and a great disrespect for the democratic process and an insult to the Nagas", it said.

"Holding the talk process with respect and in good faith, we had kept on hold the series of agitation and democratic actions planned in the entire Naga areas for securing our political aspiration.

However the statement of the said official representing the GoI has made a mockery of the process that we had upheld with much goodwill and expectation", it decried.

Maintaining that they cannot accept such statements made from official position of the GoI, the UNC said that a 48 hours total bandh on National Highway 37 would be observed in Naga areas with effect from the midnight of December 12, 2013 as a first phase of protest preceding the indefinite ban on construction work on national projects in Naga areas.

It also appealed to the general public for cooperation and solidarity.

It further asked tribe hohos and frontal organizations to be vigilant and be in readiness to face any eventuality in their respective jurisdictions.

Any persons violating this notified bandh will be doing so at their own risk, UNC added.

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