UNC announces total ban on vehicles along NHs
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Senapati, November 18 2013: United Naga Council (UNC), the apex Naga civil body in Manipur has resolved today to impose 48 hours total ban on the vehicular movement along the three national highways in 'Naga areas' in Manipur from midnight of November 19.The agitation is in protest against the non-resumption of the tripartite talks on the 'alternative arrangement' demanded by the UNC.

For the last two years, the UNC has been demanding from the government of India that an arrangement should be made for the Nagas of Manipur as they can no longer remain within the ambit of Manipur government.

According to the UNC, in respect of the democratic process of dialogue, the United Naga Council had reminded the Government of India vide our letter on October 29, 2013 of the agreement arrived at in the 6th tripartite talk of the Government of India, Government of Manipur and UNC held at Hotel Ashok, Delhi on August 30, 2013 that the next round of talk would be convened within two months time and upgraded to political level.

"We have also placed on the dialogue table that the Government of India and Government of Manipur have been disrespectful of the dialogue process with delays and lack of response to request for timely holding of talks.

We have submitted that invitation for agitation by the Government of India and Government of Manipur should be avoided and the process should be carried forward respectfully to its logical end, which is the very purpose for which the tripartite talk was put in place by the Government of India," the Naga body pointed out.

"The issue at hand is based on our history and aspiration for political empowerment.

While we have no desire to create hardship for the people, we are compelled to protest in no uncertain terms against the insult on the sentiments of the Naga people in Manipur and to reiterate the demand for immediate intervention of the Government of India with an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue," it added.

In view of the above, the presidential council meeting of the UNC held today has resolved to observe a total ban on all vehicular traffic on National Highways 2, 37 and 150 in Naga areas for 48 hours wef from midnight of November 19 .

"Should this symbolic demonstration receive no response, series of follow up democratic action will be taken up," the UNC warned.

The ban will be implemented by the tribe based bodies and regional frontal organisations in their respective jurisdiction.

Any body violating this call for observing the protest ban will be doing so at their own risk, it cautioned.

The cooperation and solidarity of the general public is solicited to make the protest.

Comment