UNC trumps AA call
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16 2013 : The United Naga Council (UNC) has acknowledged the cooperation and solidarity of the general public towards the successful observation of 48 hours total bandh in Naga areas from the midnight of August 11 and also the abstention from the celebration of the 66th Indian Independence Day on Aug 15 .

The total bandh & abstention put into effect as per UNC Presidential Council's decision of August 5 was a clear message to the world of the ardent desire of the Nagas in Manipur for an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur(GoM) pending settlement of the Indo-Naga settlement, the UNC said in a statement.

The social divides spawned by decades of denial of rights, deprivation, suppression and discrimination of Nagas and tribals in Manipur by the communal GoM compelled the Government of India(GoI) to initiate the tripartite talk process on the demand for an alternative arrangement.

However, the same wilful communal onslaught continues in more subtle form and definitely in greater intensity.

Instead of taking the democratic process of dialogue to its logical conclusion, the GoI has not convened the next round of talk even after lapse of 6 months nor made any communication in the matter, notwithstanding reminders.

The absence of any intervention from the GoI, the initiator of the dialogue process, continues to reflect disrespect and dishonour for the democratic process and has greatly eroded the faith and confidence in India's democracy and its system.

It also hailed the Tribe Hohos, the frontal and regional organisations, the tribe students' unions under the aegis of the ANSAM and youth organisations for overseeing the observation of the total bandh and abstention and for exercising outmost restraint to make it peaceful and violence free.

While the ban on all construction work of National/Central projects will continue indefinitely, further forms of protest activities will be taken up in consonance with the measure of intervention or absence of the same from the GoI, it stated while adding that with the unstinted participation and ownership of the Naga people the movement will be taken forward till the aspiration is achieved.

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