6th round of AA talks : Positive says UNC, no conclusion reached, says Chief Secretary
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal / NNN

Delhi/Dimapur, August 30 2013 : The tripartite talks on 'Alternative Arrangement' involving the United Naga Council (UNC), the Government of India and Manipur Government is likely to be upgraded to a political level talk in the next round of talks.

The 6th round of talks on the issue was held today ending on a 'positive note', according to the UNC.

Today's talk was held at Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi from 6.30 pm and dragged on for a little more than an hour, sources from UNC said where eight members represented the Naga team.

The Government of India was represented by Special Secretary of Internal Security (Ministry of Home Affairs), S Jayaraman, Joint Secretary in-charge of North East Sambhu Singh and others while the Government of Manipur was represented by Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga, Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu and others.

Talking to Newmai News Network over phone, UNC president L Adani said that the Naga delegation was not disappointed regarding today's talks as they managed to convince the Government of India representatives to upgrade the ongoing tripartite talks to the political level.

However, Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga informed the Delhi correspondent of The Sangai Express, "We have not come to any conclusion or agreement.

We will discuss and deliberate again " he said adding that the date and place is yet to be worked out.

Talking to this correspondent Adani said, "It is a political issue and the State Government representatives should participate" after today's meeting.

Bureaucrats both from the Government of India and from the Manipur Government have been representing the tripartite taks on the have been representing the tripartite taks on the Alternative Arrangement right from the start.

When asked whether the Manipur Government representatives agreed to upgrade the talks to political level, L Adani said the former did not give their commitment in this regard in today's talks.

"However, the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have told us that they will persuade the Manipur Government to upgrade the tripartite talks to the political level," Adani conveyed.

The UNC president said the Government of Manipur has been opposing the proposal to upgrade the tripartite talks on Alternative Arrangement to a political level right from the first round of talks a couple of years ago.

Further elaborating about the UNC's stand on an Alternative Arrangement, Adani noted said that since there is no development and power of the people under the present system, the UNC is demanding empowerment, which is an "institutional arrangement" for empowerment of the people inhabiting the Naga areas.

The next round of tripartite talk/ dialogue is proposed to be held in Naga areas along with representatives from the State Government said the UNC leader while talking to The Sangai Express.

Insisting on a 'separate arrangement' for the Naga areas or the hill areas at large, the UNC leader claimed that the present system under the ADC Act does not have any power nor any autonomy as an entity.

Meanwhile the UPF, the KNO and the other Kuki groups have further extended the Suspension of Operations for 1 year till August next year.

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