UCM links IM's action with UNC's demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2016:
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has stated there is a link between the UNC's demands and NSCN-IM's recent violent actions.
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, UCM president Elangbam Johnson said that the UNC's economic blockade imposed since November 1 has taken a different trajectory since a couple of days back.
NSCN-IM's hands were too obvious in the recent spate of violent activities such as firing at truck drivers on Imphal-Jiribam highway and killing of three policemen ahead of Chief Minister O Ibobi's visit to Tengnoupal, Johnson said.
Although NSCN-IM has not claimed responsibility for the violent attacks, it is becoming clearer and clearer that NSCN-IM has been using UNC as their cat's paw.
To a query, Johnson said that the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is too soft on NSCN-IM.
The cease fire agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM is not enforced and it has its own ground rules.
Leave aside launching armed attacks, even venturing into the territory of Manipur where the cease fire is not enforced is violation of its ground rules, Johnson said.
Now it is up to the Government of India whether the peace should continue or not.
The allegation of the UNC and the Forum for Understanding Naga-India Conflict and Human Rights, as stated at a press meet at Delhi on December 20 that the restive situation prevailing in Manipur was sponsored by UCM was baseless, Johnson refuted.
Blaming UCM for the burning of 22 vehicles at Khurai and counter blockades imposed at different places is simply unacceptable.
The UNC and the forum should not blame the UCM on mere suspicion in illogical and inconclusive manner, he asserted.
The truth is quite contrary.
UCM visited the stranded passengers at Khurai and extended all possible assistance apart from trying its best to defuse the tense situation, Johnson said.
UCM also took active role in bringing back the stranded passengers to Imphal along with local club volunteers, Meira Paibis and police.
He also decried the statement of the forum's convenor Lakpachui Siro which compared UCM's assistance to the stranded passengers to 'crocodile's tears' .
The UCM has been relentlessly working to restore peace and harmony in the State.
He asked why the UNC went on blaming the State Government and other civil society organisations instead of coming to the path of political dialogue.
Further asking if the UNC's stand of having severed all ties with the Government of Manipur still stands or not, Johnson questioned why did the UNC complain when State Government officials did not turn up at the tripartite talk proposed to be held at Delhi on November 15 .
He went on to ask how would one interpret UNC's political dialogue if they do not have any ties with major stake holders including the State Government and other communities.
The UNC has been paying no attention to the repeated appeals made by different sections of people including Church bodies.
The Supreme Court as well as the High Court have already ruled that blockades are illegal.
Still UNC has been going on with the economic blockade, Johnson noted.
He then asked "Do they think that the indefinite economic blockade is right or is it directed against any particular community?" .
The indefinite blockade is based on politics of hatred and nothing else, he added.
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