NSCN-IM, GOI don't want settlement: Nando
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 14 2022: As did every year, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) observed the 21st Protest Day against the divisive policy of India government at Kwakeithel bazar market shed here on Tuesday.

AMUCO has been observing Protest Day every year on June 14 to commemorate the massive protest rally staged in Imphal against the inclusion of the clause 'Without territorial limits' in the Bangkok Declaration signed between the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN-IM as part of ceasefire agreement signed between the two sides on June 14, 2001 .

Addressing the gathering, AMUCO president Nando Luwang contended that both NSCN-IM and GOI do not want to end the protracted peace talks between the two sides and neither work sincerely to end it as both of them will be at loss when the peace talks ends.

While GOI has secret plans to distort integrity of Manipur and suppress insurgency movement in the North East region in the guise of peace talks, NSCN-IM is trying to make its own position through the peace talks.

As both GOI and NSCN-IM are yet to achieve their desired positions, the peace talks remain inconclusive, Nando said and reminded the gathering that ceasefire between GOI and NSCN-IM was signed on July 25, 1997 to begin peace talks and the ceasefire came into effect from August 1 the same year.

According to Nando Luwang, the protracted peace talks between GOI and NSCN-IM have only increased anxiety among people of Manipur as GOI continues with its secret plan of creating animosity among different communities in the guise of peace talks.

He also said that people of Manipur want the peace talks to end at the earliest provided it does not affect territorial integrity of Manipur and does not undermine interest of any community.

In the past, only one underground group based on a particular community worked to distort territorial integrity of Manipur but other communities based underground groups and organisations have begun to do the same nowadays, the AMUCO president said and appealed to underground groups and organisations not to fall into GOI's ploy of breaking apart Manipur.

Nando Luwang further said that the mass protest spearheaded by AMUCO: on June 14, 2001 was the stepping stone to June 18 uprising of the same year as a 66-hour general strike was called immediately after the massive protest effective from June 15 midnight.

He also said that territorial integrity of Manipur would have been distorted had AMUCO not spearheaded the mass protest on June 14, 2001 and followed the protest with general strike which gained momentum on June 18 of the same year.

The territorial integrity of Manipur would have been in tatters had the people of Manipur did not take the decisive step on June 14 and 15, 2001, he added.

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