United Naga Council (UNC) has urged the government of India to expedite the process of finding a solution to the pending “Indo-Naga” issue.
In a memorandum submitted to President Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to Imphal on Monday, UNC pointed out that despite “fifteen long years of cease-fire and negotiation” and amidst assurances, an honourable settlement to the Indo-Naga issue has not taken place till date.
UNC reiterated its demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur reminding that the Union Home Ministry had initiated the democratic process of dialogue through the tripartite talks with the government of India, government of Manipur and the UNC.
The council said the five rounds of talks held have been limited to “technicality of centre and state relationship/jurisdiction” and on the development initiatives of the government of Manipur.
UNC asserted that the issue was not about development deficit but the core issue of granting an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the government of Manipur.
The council reminded that its position is premised on the sharp social divide on “communal lines” in Manipur.
UNC said the issue was vitiated by decades of “suppression, subjugation and hegemonic domination” of the Nagas and tribals by the communal government of Manipur.
“This social divide is not a recent development but was inherent in the construction of the present state of Manipur and even prior to the merger of Manipur to the Indian Union”, said UNC.
It alleged that the state government through use of state forces and sanctions obtained with brute majority, the rights of the Nagas in Manipur were being “irredeemably taken away.”
Stating that it was imperative for the government of India to intervene, UNC said Nagas’ rights to their land, traditional institutions, culture and way of life must be ensured with an alternative arrangement.
Should the government of India plead helplessness citing the technicality of centre-state relationship, UNC said then it condemned the Nagas and the tribals to continued deprivation and suppression thus becoming willing abettor of injustice to which the Nagas have been subjected to.
UNC drew the attention of the President of India to the “potential for communal confrontations and violence” which it said could flare up at the slightest “provocations, intentional or perceived as such by any community.”
The council has solicited the President’s personal initiative for the Union government’s intervention with an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur at the earliest.