Dimapur, May 21 2010: While announcing that the next round of talks with the government of India would be held in "Naga country", the NSCN-IM today asked New Delhi to put off its hands so that the Naga outfit can deal the situation.

"We have been asking New Delhi to lay off its hands from the present problem so that we can deal with Manipur in our own ways," asserted NSCN-IM former military chief V.S.Atem.

Addressing a press conference at Viswema this afternoon, V.S Atem who is an 'emissary to the collective leadership' of the NSCN-IM said that if the government of India is unable to address the present problem, "leave it to us, we will deal with Manipur in our own ways" .

VS Atem then said that it had told the government of India that the next round of talks will be held in 'Naga country' .

He said that no precise response has come-forth from the Government side but "New Delhi is not averse to the idea" .

Sources said that the next round of talks between the government of India and the NSCN-IM will be held next week.

Meanwhile, VS Atem affirmed that NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah will definitely visit Manipur any time.

"We are not going to retreat, we only go forward," asserted V.S Atem during the press conference.

"We will never part an inch of our land," further asserted Atem.

"The present problem in Manipur is the creation of the state government of Manipur," said VS Atem who is 'emissary' to the NSCN-IM's collective leadership.

The NSCN-IM leader while talking to journalists at Viswema village, off Kohima this afternoon said that for many years the Government of Manipur and the majority community confining in the Manipur valley have been depriving and suppressing the rights of the tribal people of Manipur.

"The present crisis in Manipur is the result of this long time ill-treatment and deprivation of the Nagas and for that matter, the tribal people by the Manipuris," alleged VS Atem.

He said that after the dawning of Vaishnavism in Manipur the Manipuris started treating the Nagas and other tribal communities as untouchable," alleged VS Atem.

He added that this ill-treatment of the Nagas and other hill people of Manipur have been going on for several decades and "now the hill people of Manipur are losing their patience" .

VS Atem further alleged that the valley of Manipur has been developed at the expense of the hill people of Manipur.

Meanwhile, VS Atem lambasted the Government of India for always having soft corners for the Manipuris.

VS Atem said that the Manipuris will burn few effigies in their protest over any issue in Imphal streets and the Government of India will come running and take care of what the Manipuris demand.

He further alleged that the government of India fails to understand who are their friends and who are their enemies.

"Just after Ibobi Singh became the chief minister of Manipur, the Hindi films have been banned in Manipur in the name of some underground outfit," said VS Atem.

He also said that a good number of labourers, vegetable vendors and rag-pickers coming from outside Manipur have been massacred in the Manipur valley.

He said that now the labourers have started flocking to Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Senapati and other hill areas.

But the government of India still have soft corners for the Manipuris, said Atem.

"Even though the Nagas are fighting the government of India, we do not ill-treat the Indians," said Atem, adding, "We do not consider Indians as our enemies, we are just asking the government of India to recognise our rights".

Comment