Mao society to sever Manipur ties
Morung Express
Dimapur, May 29 (MExN): Mao civil society today said it will severe all ties with Manipur state and have urged the Naga people’s front to work out an ‘alternative arrangement’ for the Naga areas with the Government of India.
Mao frontal organizations and Naga Parliamentarians’ Forum (NPF) met in Punanamei under the aegis of the Mao Hoho on May 28. The forum was represented by former MP Mani Charenamei, former minister Benjamin Banee, LS John, SP Henry and Henry Paotei, a joint statement from the NPF and Mao Hoho stated today. “That, in keeping with the decision of the United Naga Council, the Mao Hoho will sever all ties with the Government of Manipur and urge the members of the NPF to work out an alternative arrangement for the Naga Areas (in Manipur) with the Government of India,” a copy of the resolutions received here stated.
The organizations in meeting also noted the “defining” statement of Inner Manipur Congress MP, Dr. Th. Meinya Singh in an interview with CNN-IBN on 20th May, 2010 that the people of India regarded only Imphal as ‘Manipur’.
“As stated by Dr. Meinya, Imphal, i.e, Manipur and its government does not represent the Nagas at all. The Government of Manipur runs only at the whims and fancies of the Meitei community in Imphal. Therefore, the Nagas will henceforth seek to sever all ties with the Government of Manipur,” the statement said. The organizations strongly censured atrocities of Manipur’s Police commandos, Manipur Rifles and IRB at Mao Gate on May 6 that left two students dead and about a hundred injured. The May 6 shooting also left over 2000 villagers displaced and scattered in various places in Nagaland.
A number of resolutions emerged from the major meeting. While extending ‘undivided’ support to the Indo-Naga peace talks, the meeting urged the Government of India to expedite the peace process and bring about an early and amicable solution. Also the leaders demanded fulfillment of the government’s commitment to ‘immediately’ withdraw Manipur state’s armed forces from Mao Gate and other Hill districts of Manipur. This commitment and assurance was given by the Chief Secretary of Manipur and the GOC of 59 Mountain Division following the May 9 killing and also by the Government of India through Home Secretary GK Pillai and Interlocutor RS Pandey on May 13. Further, the chief negotiator of the NSCN (IM) Thuingaleng Muivah “must visit his birthplace without any prejudice and the Mao community will give a red carpet welcome to its leader,” another resolution stated.
