United Naga Council team in New Delhi for tripartite talk

Newmai News Network Imphal | November 14   Finally, the Government of India has intervened on the prevailing situation in Manipur. The 'tripartite talk' involving the Government of Manipur, the United Naga Council (UNC), and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be held at North Block, New Delhi on November 15 on the impasse arisen out of the new district creation issue. The UNC team has expressed optimism of resolving the problem.   The UNC wants the Government to honour the 4 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on Sadar Hills, signed between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur in letter and spirit. The MoUs were signed on December 14, 1981, between the Government of Manipur and ANSAM on November 10, 1992, between the Government of Manipur and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on September 27, 1996, and between the Government of Manipur and UNC and ANSAM on June 23,1998 agreeing upon that not even an inch of Naga ancestral land and its original should be touched while creating any new district and also a written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on November 24, 2011.   Talking to Newmai News Network before their departure for New Delhi this afternoon, the UNC delegation said their stand on the ongoing indefinite economic blockade will depend on the outcome of the 'tripartite talk' to be held on November 15. "We are hopeful of resolving the impasse," added the UNC leaders. The 6-member team led by UNC president Gaidon Kamei included All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) president Seth Sethshang. According to the UNC, the Government of India through the Ministry of Home Affairs invited the UNC on Sunday for talk.   In the recent emergency United Naga Council (UNC) Presidential Council Meeting with frontal organizations of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Women Union (NWU) and senior leaders, it was decided to intensify the ongoing indefinite economic blockade, including banning the construction of Trans Asian Railways and National Projects in 'Naga territories'. The meeting re-affirmed that the Naga people "will not compromise our rights over land, identity, history, tradition, culture, custom and time honored institutions under any circumstances till a written official assurance from the Government of India is received on the position of creating new districts(s) since, the Nagas have declared severance of political ties with the communal Government of Manipur."  The meeting was called to review the ongoing indefinite economic blockade including banning the construction of Trans Asian Railways and National projects in 'Naga territories' which was launched from the midnight of November 1, 2016 in protest against the "lopsided decision of the communal Government of Manipur to declare the so called Sadar Hills and Jiribam sub division into full fledged districts.”   It may be noted that an indefinite counter-blockade began since last Saturday along Imphal-Ukhrul road, called by local organisations of Khurai area in Imphal East district as the indefinite economic blockade call given by the United Naga Council (UNC) continues over Sadar Hills and Jiribam district creation issue.