CSOs carry on common future campaign
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 05 2015: Carrying on its campaign for mobilizing a collective movement for a common future of the people of Manipur, a public meeting was also held at Nongmeibung under the aegis of AMUCO, UCM, CCSK and the Eastern Students' Club.

AMUCO advisor KT Rahaman, CCSK secretary general Jitendra Ningomba, UCM president Elangbam Johnson, Eastern Students' Club vice-president Th Rashini and Nongmeibung Women Development Meira Paibi Association president N Subita attended the meeting as presidium members.

KT Rahaman said that the political dialogue between Gol and NSCN-IM has been threatening the territorial integrity of Manipur since it began in 1997 .

Both the historic mass rally of August 4, 1997 and the June civil movement of 2001 were rooted in the people's common concern to protect Manipur.

Now the framework agreement signed on August 3 has bred renewed anxiety among the people of Manipur.

Terms like South Nagaland, Greater Nagaland, Supra State, Alternative Arrangement and Greater Autonomy have become quite familiar with the dialogue process.

But the exact contents of the framework agreement has not been divulged till date which is only breeding more suspicions and anxiety, KT Rahaman said.

"We don't see any particular community as an adversary but there is a need to understand the conspiracy to disintegrate Manipur and devise a common strategy collectively", he added.

Comparing the political situation of Manipur to an active volcano which may erupt any time, Jitendra Ningomba maintained that the framework agreement of August 3 has only exacerbated the situation.

"As the political dialogue always impinges upon the collective interest of Manipur, neither Gol nor NSCN-IM can be trusted but we have no ill-feeling against any one of them", Jitendra said.

AMUCO, UCM and CCSK have been planning a huge public rally at Imphal on or before November 15 .

Quoting interlocutor RN Ravi's assurance that the political dialogue is within the ambit of the Indian Constitution and it would not affect the territorial boundaries of any of the North Eastern States, Johnson questioned Ravi's assertion thatNaga people have suffered a lot and something must be given.

After a memorandum was submitted on September 10, the three CSOs held a meeting with the interlocutor on November 3 .

"We made it clear that constitution of a pan-Naga cultural body is unacceptable to the people of Manipur", Johnson conveyed.

Drawing lines of division based on ethnicity is nothing but laying foundation for ultimate disintegration of Manipur.

RN kavi was again talking about empowerment.

There is no harm in empowering people but the same initiative should not be exclusive to a single community and any step towards empowerment should not bypass the Government of Manipur, he continued.

Ravi was also talking about alleged suppression of Naga people by the bigger community.

To this, the CSOs made it clear that the hill districts are under separate administration since before Indian independence.

AMUCO, CCSK and UCM would stand firm with the six-point memorandum, Johnson added.

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