UNC Memorandum on Tripartite Talk of the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council

Tahamzam, 15th July, 2013

The Hon'ble Home Minister,
Government of India
North Block
Central Secretariat
New Delhi - 110 001

Hon'ble Sir,

The fifth round of tripartite talk of the Government of India(GoI), Government of Manipur(GoM) and the Nagas in Manipur under the aegis of the United Naga Council(UNC) on the demand for an alternative arrangement was held on the 12th February , 2013. The talk concluded with the GoI assuring that the next round of talk would be held very soon stressing on need to continue the dialogue process. A period of 5 months has since elapsed and during which time the UNC has issued public statements on the unabated communal policies and actions of the GoM targeting the Nagas and the tribal in Manipur. It is a matter of great concern that no communication has been received at our end from the GoI on the dialogue process till date.

It may be noted that the UNC had placed on record that the GoI and the GoM must be respectful of the democratic process of dialogue and avoid delay in convening the talk as done in past instances.

We have also insisted that the dialogue should be political as the core issue is political. But the representative of the GoM has been maintaining that they do not have the mandate to talk on the political issue and that the same should be done at the political level. We would like to cite that in the 1st round of talk held at North Block, Delhi on the 21st September, 2010 it was assured by the GoI that representation of GoM would have the mandate and authority to talk on the issues raised by the UNC. The GoI vide its letter No. 8/8/2008-NE.I dated 24th November, 2010 had communicated to us that the GoM had been advised to come prepared to discuss the memorandum dated 14th September, 2010 submitted by the UNC in the talk scheduled for 3rd December, 2012. Further, vide their letter dated 27th November, 2010, the GoM had informed that it would be represented in the next round of talk (2nd round) by three Ministers, who would be assisted by the Chief Secretary and other senior officials. But in the 3rd December, 2010 talk held at Tahamzam(Senapati), Manipur, the GoM was represented by the Chief Secretary and senior officials who stated that political issues can be taken up only at the appropriate level. The GoI had intervened saying that all aspects have to be discussed without reservation and that the State government may not be restricted in understanding the issues and conveying them to the political authorities. Thus the talk was continued and in the subsequent rounds, ie 3rd, 4th and 5th round the UNC has presented it's case for an alternative political arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the GoM and had submitted the postulates of the alternative arrangement in the 4th round held at Delhi on the 31st August, 2012. All these while, the GoM representatives maintained a wholesale stand of not being competent to address the political issue.

It is thus our submission that representation of GoM in the tripartite talk should be competent and authorised to address the issue tabled by the UNC without which it would be considered a disrespect for the democratic process of dialogue and also for the sentiments of the Naga people in Manipur.

In view of the above, we urge the GoI to kindly communicate the date for the next round of talk within 15 days of this submission after ensuring that the GoM would be represented with mandate and authority to address the issue at hand. Further, we request that the next round of talk may be held at Tamenglong district HQ as already assured vide MHA letter No 8/8/2008-NE. 1 dated 6th February, 2013.

Yours faithfully,

L Adani
President, United Naga Council

Gaidon Kamei
General Seretary, United Naga Council

Copy for information and necessary action to :-
1. Shri Anil Goswami, Secretary, Ministry of home Affairs, government of India, North Block, Delhi
2. Shri Shambhu Singh, Jt. Secretary (North East), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, North Block, Delhi