Imphal, February 08 2009: If what MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing, representing Phungyar Assembly Constituency in Ukhrul Disrict of Manipur, said is true, then we may as well expect another spell of trouble in the state.The MLA told a group of media persons at his official quarter at Babupara this evening that he along with two other Naga MLAs recently met the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram at New Delhi to seek clarification from him about the status of ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) in Manipur, whereas the Union Minister told them that the ceasefire is effective in all Naga inhabited areas. "It covers anywhere," Chidambaram allegedly told the Naga MLAs from Manipur. Divulging this astonishing information, MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing told the media persons that Chidambaram had told them that the ceasefire is in force in not only all Naga inhabited areas but also "anywhere." The MLA along with W Morung Makunga, MLA from Tengnoupal AC and K Raina, MLA from Tadubi AC met the Union Home Minister on February 4 in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum to him. In the memorandum, the three MLAs stated that Nagas in Manipur were very much upset over the dealings of the Government of India with NSCN and the peace process that has been dragged on for over 11 years without any tangible results. In the meantime, Manipur Government has come out again against the ceasefire between the GOI and the NSCN in Manipur, and the GOI also seems to be perplexed, the memorandum had mentioned. As people's representatives of Nagas in Manipur, they were constrained to state clearly so that the confusion is done away once and for all.

The Naga people supported the ongoing peace process because they want negotiated settlementthrough peaceful means but if the Home Minister says there is no ceasefire in Manipur then, he was looking for War (violence and bloodshed) with the Nagas.

Moreover, it would be deemed as naked denial of the existence of Nagas in Manipur which the Nagas will never accept lying down.

The repercussion from the peple against Manipur Government and Delhi would be disastrous for which Nagas should not be held responsible, the memorandum stated. It further stated that it was a round reality that there is the cessation of militancy operation and confrontation between the Indian security forces and the Naga Army in the Naga districts.

There are camps of the Naga Army units in the area which are not disturbed by the security forces.

The absence of confrontation between the two bring peaceful atmosphere in the Naga areas and it contributed to the success of the peace process.

However, the memorandum added, the Siroy standoff was an unfortunate development.

It had caused consternation and tension among the people of the district, the three Naga MLAs expressed through the memorandum. They further reiterated that the Indo-Naga peace process should continue and both sides should ensure that the peace process is not disturbed, and they firmly believed that the confrontation between both sides should be avoided for the sake of peace. MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing told the media persons that the Home Minister had told the Naga MLAs that instructions had already been given to the paramilitary forces and the Naga rebels to avoid any unwanted situations.

He had also told them that there should not be factions among the Naga rebels and assured of accelerating the peace talk.

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