Mathur assures to take all on board
Source: The Sangai Express
CCpur, June 27 2018:
The Centre's Interlocutor for SoO groups, AB Mathur met various CSO representatives and held closed-door meeting with leaders of the SoO groups today at Lamka College with assurance to do whatever is possible for the area after taking on board all stake holders.
The former IPS officer who served as the District SP in the late 70s said he has fond memories of the area and consider himself as very fortunate to have been given the task of an Interlocutor.
Interacting with CSO representatives after holding a close-door meeting with UPF leaders at Lamka College, Mathur said, 'I can assure you I will do with all my sincerity.
I would also like to tell you that the current Government in Manipur is equally sincere, please do not have any doubts in your mind.
Similarly the Government of India is also very sincere.
There' s lot of sincerity.
There's a lot of willingness to see that, whatever best can be done for the people of the area, should be done.
Rest assured that whatever is possible will be done.' There are three stake holders in the dialogue; the Government of India, the Government of Manipur and the SoO groups.
'You cannot exclude anyone of them from the dialogue.
Whatever is to be done is to be done with them.
Please do not doubt anybody's sincerity.
Each side has to play its part.
So please play your part as sincerely as possible,' he told the CSO leaders.
He cited his past involvement in dialogues including the MNF agreement to convey that the process for any dialogue is taxing and needs everybody on board when asked to give a timeline for a final settlement.
'Giving any timeline is not possible.
It is a long process.
Agreement cannot be imposed.
If someone imposes an agreement, it will not last, I can assure you.
I have seen it,' he said, adding, 'everybody has to be on board.
(Now) to take everybody on board takes time.' He however wants the public leaders to be rest assured as he claims to know and understand their problems.
Theoretically, he said that he knows all the grievances as he has lived here for the last 40 years.
He also said he knew the differences; knew the equations, the equations between the different groups of people living in Manipur.
On the request to divulge details of the negotiations, he said the dialogue was with SoO groups and it is a privileged discussion.
'I am not supposed to disclose it outside; they are not supposed to disclose it outside' .
The CSO leaders and the SoO groups may have consulted within themselves, he said but advised them to keep and maintain the sanctity of the discussion.
The Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF), GHQs presented the Interlocutor a handful of memoranda and documents even as they expressed the desire to see a fruitful outcome from the dialogue.
Their representation to the Union Home Ministry, the State Government with regard to oil exploration and Kailam Wildlife Sanctuary are some of the pressing issues they raised over and above the political dialogue.
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