Alternative Arrangement outside Government of Manipur : Demand for intervention by Government of India

28th January, 2013

Dr. Manmohan Singh
The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India,
South Block
New Delhi

Hon'ble Sir,

Alternative Arrangement outside Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue – Demand for immediate intervention thereof by Government of India.

We refer to our Memorandum dated 27th November, 2012 jointly signed by the United Naga Council(UNC) and 22 other Naga frontal organisations and constituent tribe units urging your good office for an early and honourable settlement of the Indo-Naga political issue based on the recognition of the "unique history and situation of the Nagas". We had also expressed therein, our concern about the postures being adopted by certain groups without any historical or political basis in connivance with the communal Government of Manipur(GoM) with the intention of disturbing the Indo-Naga peace process and had urged against taking cognizance of such frivolous postulation.

We also invite reference to our Memorandum dated 23rd December, 2012 and the subsequent Memorandum dated 30th December, 2012 urging for Immediate intervention of the Government of India(GoI) on the communal onslaught on the Nagas in Manipur by the dominant community of Imphal valley, the Imphal valley based militants and the communal GoM during the indefinite bandh imposed in Imphal valley with effect from midnight of 21st December in protest against the reported incident of the manhandling of an actress Ms. Momoko by one Mr. Livingstone, a cadre of the NSCN(IM) at Chandel on 18 December, 2012. The main target of the communal forces was to disturb the celebration of Christmas. It is a premeditated attack on Nagas and on Christians. A localized incident, which had no political or communal implication has been exploited and blown out of proportion.

The intention for the same is also clear which is to disturb the impending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue by wiping up communal response from the Imphal valley. The civil society, militant groups and political parties of Imphal valley and the entire state machinery of the GoM have all been engaged to sabotage the Indo-Naga peace process which seeks to address the political aspiration of the Naga people.

Sir, as your good self had observed, we live in the present state of Manipur in a communally surcharged environment which is worsening by the day. Nagas have been exercising outmost restraint and the 72 hours bandh in Naga areas from the midnight of 26th December, 2012 to the midnight of 29th December, 2012 was observed largely on precautionary considerations to prevent any untoward incident in Naga areas given the assaults, taunting, humiliations and torturous hardship systematically inflicted upon Nagas in Imphal during the Christmas eve.

We reiterate that Nagas are not communal and ours is a political issue. What we do not wish for is for any communal conflagration to take place because of the inability on the part of the GoM and the communal forces to accept the inevitable and the logical conclusion of the Naga peoples' movement for their political aspirations rooted in their history and situation. What we wish for is the peaceful parting of ways and the securing of good neighbourliness for all times to come.

It is our concern that the settlement of the Indo-Naga issue is being delayed even after more than 15 years of negotiation by the GoI, which seems to be subjecting the process to the approval of a state of the Union which is not a party to the process. The delay is enthusing the GoM and communal forces that informs its decisions and policies to adopt more communal strategies.

We are concern that the GoI, notwithstanding the above Memorandum under reference and the foregoing, have not intervened to prevent a full scale communal conflict, which is clearly inevitable should the forced and undesirable union be allowed to fester deeper. The GoI would therefore be responsible for any unfortunate turn of events arising out of this situation.

However, we still retain our faith in the principles of democracy and fervently urge the GoI to take up the demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the GoM pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue in all seriousness and sense of urgency.

The 4th round of tripartite talk of the GoI, GoM and the UNC on our demand for an alternative arrangement at Delhi on the 31st August, 2012 had concluded with a pronouncement by the GoI that the next round of talk would be held very soon in a hill venue in the state of Manipur.

It is therefore submitted that the GoI communicate the date for the 5th round of TPT on or before the 17th February, 2013 so that the democratic process of dialogue initiated by the GoI is brought to its logical conclusion. Should the requested response be not received in time we will have to take up course of actions in protests against the GoI's disrespect and undermining the democratic process of dialogue and inaction in addressing the constitutional and democratic rights of the Nagas in Manipur.

Placing our confidence once again in your visionary and wise leadership.

Yours faithfully

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(L. ADANI)
President


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(GAIDON KAMEI)
General Secretary

Enclosed : 1. Copy of UNC Memorandum dated 27th November, 2012 for early and honourable settlement the Indo-Naga issue on the basis of unique history and situation of the Nagas.

2. Copy of UNC Memorandum dated 27th November, 2012 for Immediate intervention of the Government of India on the communal onslaught on the Nagas in Manipur by the dominant community of Imphal valley and the communal Government of Manipur.

3. Copy of Joint Memorandum submitted to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Hon'ble Prime Minister, Union of India by the United Naga Council and the Tangkhul Naga Long on 30th December, 2012 for immediate intervention of the Government of India on the communal onslaught on the Nagas in Manipur by the dominant community of Imphal valley, valley militants and the communal Government of Manipur.

Copy for information and necessary action to :-
1. Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Hon'ble Home Minister, Government of India, North Block, Delhi.
2. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Hon'ble Leader of the Opposition, Union of India.
3. Shri Shambhu Singh, Jt. Secretary (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, North Block, Delhi.