Imphal, February 04 2009: State chief Minister Okram Ibobi has categorically stated that no designated camp of NSCN(IM) or any other underground organisation will be allowed to open any where in Manipur.

The Chief Minister made this statement today before media persons, some of his cabinet colleagues and officials during an inspection visit to Porompat where construction of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) is going on, at snail's pace.

The Chief Minister further said that Manipur is a state within sovereign India.

Therefore, no organisation based in Manipur can demand sovereignty and independent of Manipur.

Regarding the Kuki armed organisations, Chief Minister O Ibobi said, the Suspension of Operation (SoO) being currently followed is a tripartite agreement among the Kuki militant groups, Government of India and Government of Manipur.

As per this agreement, the Kuki militant groups have agreed to have a dialogue within the frame work of Indian constitution, and they have also agreed not to make any demand that may disturb the territorial integrity of Manipur, Ibobi said.

Therefore, the state government has given its consent on opening of designated camps for the Kuki militant groups.

But on the other hand, the ceasefire which is going on between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) does not cover Manipur.

As such, no designated camp of NSCN (IM) can be opened in Manipur, the Chief Minister said without mincing word.

Making a mention about the talks between a faction of KCP and the state government, the Chief Minister said, the third round of talks is almost over.

Since the number of the cadres of this group is too much, steps would be taken up to identify each of them, issue identity cards and open designated camps.

To the astonishment of the people, the Chief Minister revealed that the number of cadres of this KCP group is 1,800.On an allegation made by MPP leaders that "after the British known as white Sahebs enslaved the people of Manipur, now they continue to live as slaves under the black Sahebs," the Chief Minister asked the MPP leaders to show clearly the kind of enslavement and that we are not getting freedom so that "we may struggle together".

Endorsing the statement given by the Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to media persons a few days back at the airport as regards tough stand against the extortionists, Chief Minister Ibobi said, the state government would do everything possible to curtail the activities of extortion.

Comment