Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 23 2010:
The 20 day-long economic blockade imposed on the two national highways leading to Manipur by the United Naga Council (UNC), which is supposed to end at 6 am of August 24, i.e.tomorrow has been extended by another 25 days.
The ongoing blockade began at 6 am of August 4 .
The spokesman of UNC said tonight over phone that since New Delhi has failed to intervene as regards its demands, the UNC has decided to extend their agitation.
The UNC has been demanding institution of a Judicial Enquiry into the May 6, 2010 incident at Mao Gate, where two students were shot dead and more than a hundred 'peaceful' protestors wounded by the Manipur State forces.
Another point has been the immediate withdrawal of Section 144 CrPC and 'demilitarisation' of the Naga inhabited areas by removing the India Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Manipur police commandos.
The Naga body also demands for the removal of 'wanted' tags and fixing of rewards imposed on two Naga leaders.
The UNC then demands for the dissolution of the Autonomous District Councils which it termed them as 'undemocratically instituted'.
The United Naga Council has been saying that since the Nagas have already severed their ties with the state government of Manipur, an 'alternative arrangement' for the Nagas in Manipur becomes an urgency by New Delhi.
Regarding the imposition of economic blockade, the United Naga Council (UNC) said it was an expression of the democratic rights, without which there seems to be no way to attract the attention and response of the Government and the concerned authorities.