Imphal, June 30: The ceasefire agreement concluded between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) for bringing peace in the north-eastern region and also for peaceful solution to the Naga problem is welcome and appreciated as long as it is confined to the territorial boundaries of Nagaland alone.

However, such attempt of brining peace at the cost of other states is opposed tooth and nail by the people of Manipur.

The unilateral extension of the cease-fire between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) to areas in Manipur has hurt the sentiments of the people of Manipur.

The Centre should not therefore delay in withdrawing its decision to extend the cease-fire to the north-eastern states before it is too late.

This was stated by Prof Sanajaoba Singh, advisor of All Manipur United Clubs' Organization, while addressing a largely-attended press conference in New Delhi this afternoon.

Sanajaoba said history would not forgive the government of India for its hasty decision taken ,with regard to expansion of the territorial limits of the cease-fire to the north-east particularly Manipur where multi-ethnic groups live together with a sense of brotherhood from time immemorial.

There is, he said, great apprehension of severing of ties between India and her neighboring countries like Myanmar where the Nagas are living as far as territorial limits is concerned.

Prof Sanajaoba said it would be wise on the part of the Centre if the words "without territorial limits" are deleted from the Bangkok agreement.

Had there been clear indications that the boundaries of Nagaland's neighboring states will be protected, there would not have been such public uprising of such magnitude, he said.

The AMUCO advisor said the hill areas of Manipur constitutes about nine-tenth of the total geographical area and the demand of the NSCN(IM) for integration of it with Nagaland is illogical as one of the major tribes, the Kukis, are also the co-inhabitants in the Manipur hills.

The Kuki tribes who have been living in the state for centuries, can not be driven away as they have their legitimate land rights, he added.

He also spoke of the role played by the AMUCO in restoring peace in the hill areas of Manipur during the Naga-Kuki ethnic clashes which rocked the state in 1992.AMUCO advisor Dr Sanajaoba strongly condemned the Centre's attitude of bypassing the state government, NGOs and the people of the states concerned before taking the decision to extend the ceasefire beyond the boundaries of Nagaland.

In reply to a question, he pointed out that apart from Manipur, the people as well as the governments of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura have also expressed their strong opposition to the ceasefire extension to their respective states.

He further alleged that the Centre while taking the hasty decision had totally ignored the resolutions adopted by the Manipur legislative Assembly four times against the ceasefire extension and also the people's sentiments.

The Centre should have taken the governments and people of the affected states into confidence and their consent should also have been obtained before such an important decision was taken, he said.

He pointed out that though the Union home minister had claimed that the Centre had consulted the states concerned, but the state governments have totally denied giving their consent.

The professor further told the mediapersons that the centre should adopt a resolution to provide Constitutional safeguard to the state boundaries as in the case of Jamu and Kashmir He cautioned the Centre that equal treatment should be given to all the states in the northeastern region.

Comment