Imphal, August 05, 2010: Even as the State Government is all set to depute a three member Ministerial team to meet leaders of the United Naga Council (UNC) in Senapati on August 6, the latter has emphatically said today that since they have severed ties with the State Government, there is no room for such talks.

On August 4 the State cabinet, during a meeting, had decided that a Ministerial team would be sent to Senapati to meet the Naga leaders and negotiate on issues they have been agitating over.

However, the UNC said today that instead of the State Govt they have approached the Centre to intervene at this juncture.

"It is learnt through the media that an inter-ministerial team of the Government of Manipur will be deputed to Senapati headquarters to discuss the Autonomous District Council (ADC) matter with the UNC in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati.

It has therefore become necessary to once again make our position very clear that the UNC cannot meet and discuss with the Government of Manipur on the ADC issue as the Naga people have declared the recently conducted ADC elections as 'null and void", said the UNC today.

The UNC stated that the Nagas in the present State of Manipur, having established their position based upon the 'unmistakable fact' that it is impossible to protect their right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practice and values under the administration of the dominant and communal Govt of Manipur and their history, has clearly confirmed the harsh reality that the Government of Manipur has never recognized and respected the identity and dignity of the Naga people.

The Naga Peoples' Convention (NPC), the highest decision making platform of the Nagas in Manipur, on July 1, 2010, declared the severance of all political ties with the State Govt and to seek the intervention of the government of India for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur State.

"Since the Nagas have severed political ties with the government of Manipur, the intervention of the Government of India for an alternative arrangement is sought by the Nagas of Manipur.

Therefore, we will not welcome the GoM and their representatives into Naga areas," the UNC said.

Comment