UCM Press Communiqué 11th August 2020
OFFICE OF THE
UNITED COMMITTEE MANIPUR (UCM)
H.O.: Lamphel Traffic Island, Imphal West.
Ref. No.: 35/PR/IPR/UCM2020
Dated: 11-Aug-2020
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF MANIPUR (KANGLEIPAK) NEEDS TO MAKE THEIR POSITION CLEAR ON NAGA PEACE TALKS BEFORE SEPTEMBER DEADLINE SET BY PM’S OFFICE
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) seriously consider that with the deadline of September month set by the PMO on the contentious Naga Peace Talks to sign the final pact as reported by various News agencies where the Interlocutor Mr RN Ravi has been asked to prepared the time and place for the Accord, the UCM appeals to all its elected representatives and the people in this crucial time to make our position clear and remind New Delhi in an unambiguous terms about the position of the state of Manipur with regard to any solution that may be reached between Govt. of India and NSCN Groups of NNPG and NSCN (IM).
As resolved at the People’s Convention held on 19 September 2019 at Lamyanba Shanglen which also endorsed by the state government, any Naga Accord must not impinge upon the unity and territorial integrity of Manipur. The resolutions taken on that they still stand firms and UCM reaffirms the following resolutions.
- The Framework of Agreement or the possible final settlement of the Naga Peace Accord shall not disturb and interfere into the Unity and territorial integrity of Manipur under any conditions.
- Even if the Government of India assures that the Geographical boundary of the North Eastern states will remain intact, anything which subsequently relates to the ongoing Framework Agreement cannot be taken up inside Manipur without the prior sanction and approval of the State Government and the people of Manipur.
- Any steps that might be taken up by Government of India which directly or indirectly seemed to endorse the longstanding demand of the NSCN (IM) of integrating the Naga inhabited areas such as Pan Naga Cultural Provincial/Territorial Council or any arrangement relating to Financial Autonomy or Ethnic Based Administrative arrangement (division) or any (other name) structural formation in similar line is unacceptable to the people of Manipur.
- In the very final settlement of the Naga Peace Accord if the Govt. Of India compromise and agreed to any of the three points mentioned above and against the wishes and aspirations of the people of Manipur, the people of Manipur shall take its own course to determine the future of Manipur.
- Also resolved to submit the resolutions of today’s meeting to the Chief Minister of Manipur and the Prime Minister of India.
The same was sent to the respective office and we still stand by it.
When Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Education Minister Th. Radheshyam along with the 18 strong delegation of COCOMI met the Indian leaders on November 25, 2019, the Union Home Minister after listening to the deliberations categorically stated that the people of Manipur will be consulted if the Naga Accord would impinge upon the interest of Manipur in any manner.
On that meeting apart from the Chief Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy and BJP National Secy. BL Santosh and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla had also witnessed to what the Union Home Minister assured on the day.
It is crucial to inform the PMO, the Prime Minister as well as the Union Home Minster in advance about the non-negotiable position of the people of Manipur before any final settlement is sealed between the GoI and NSCN (IM).
We also appeal to our Hon’ble Chief Minister, Education Minister, Member of Parliament and all elected representative of the state Assembly to take note of all the above information to apprise and warn the Government of India against incorporating anything in the Naga Accord which goes against the collective interest of Manipur.
UCM would also send a representation to all relevant leaders of India highlighting all these points.
Manipur is now standing on a very decisive juncture, and we the people should understand that it would be literally impossible to regain a united Manipur once it is disintegrated.
Kabaw Valley has gone to Myanmar and the neighbouring country has taken several border areas after shifting boundary pillars and Manipur is unable to take them back again. As such, the best option to protect our land is to thwart any possible harm that may be done to the State by the Naga Accord. Averting a problem is a far better option than reconciliation after damages has been already done. Current problem of Covid-19 Pandemic or any epidemic will come and go but Manipur will be gone forever if it is once disintegrated.
BM Yaima
Secretary, IPR
UCM, Imphal
