UNC seeks Govt of India's intervention
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2014 : The UNC, through a memo-randum addressed to the Prime Minister, has sought imme-diate intervention of the Go- vernment of India for revo-cation of the vitiating 144 Cr PC, removal of police com-mandos and IRB from Naga areas and for ensuring that the GoM observes the ground rules of the cease-fire in letter and spirit.

The memorandum reiterated that the GoI should expedite the process of intervention with an alternative arrangement, outside the GoM pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

"We truly believe in democratic values and in doing so we are placing the above before your good office.

In pursuit of our democratic rights and political aspiration, we shall have no option but to take up further democratic civil actions if the above demands are not considered within 5 days time of this submission", read the memorandum.

That a 24 hour peaceful total bandh in Naga areas was observed with effect from the midnight of July 15 in protest against the highly vitiated situation brought about by the Government of Manipur after promulgating Section 144 of Cr.

PC in Ukhrul district headquarters in the wake of the killing of one Mr Ngalangzar Malue by unidentified person on July 12 .

The sentiment of the Naga people on the militarization of Ukhrul town with the deployment of Manipur Police Commandos and the IRBs who are well known for their notoriety, indiscipline and disregard for human lives and rights was demonstrated loud and clear.

However, even after lapse of 5 days the siege of Ukhrul by the communal state forces continues, disrupting normal life, social functions and church programmes, and creating a war like situation and undermining the democratic rights of the people.

In the four Imphal valley districts, hundreds of innocent mainland Indian(non-Meiteis) businessmen have killed and maimed by valley based undergrounds under the very nose of the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Bombings and shootings are routine and even the Chief Minister's official residence has been attacked 3 times.

In sharp contrast to the Naga areas, the Disturbed Area Act has been conveniently lifted from 7 Assembly segments of greater Imphal.

"The Nagas in Manipur have declared on the 1st July, 2010 the severance of political ties with the GoM due to unmistakable facts that it is impossible to protect our right to life, land, time-honored institutions, customary practices and values under the administration of the dominant and communal GoM", it said.

Consequently the Government of India initiated the process of tripartite talk of the GoI, GoM and the United Naga Council(UNC) to address the demand for an alternative arrangement outside the GoM, pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.

In the 7th tripartite talk held on 6th February, 2014.it was agreed that a high powered committee would be instituted by the GoI to translate the demand of alternative arrangement into a political reality.

The Nagas have upheld the Indo-Naga peace process in their prayers and spirit all through the 17 long years of cease-fire and political talks.

But at every available opportunity, the GoM spares no efforts to derail the Indo-Naga peace process in the name of maintaining law and order.

The willful violation of the cease-fire ground rules in the Ukhrul instance, when a cease-fire monitoring mechanism is in place, speaks volumes of the malafide content of the GoM's action.

A limb of the Union of India arrogantly undermines the Indo-Naga peace process, which recognizes the unique history and situation of the Naga people, it alleged.

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