Encourages peoples to peoples dialogue so that people on the ground do not suffer
Dimapur, March 29 (MExN): The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) expressed concern over the situation arising at the border along the Nagaland-Manipur boundary and the subsequent shut downs called by various organisations, and urged the Government of India to intervene.
In a press release on Tuesday, the NESO which is a conglomeration of eight students’ movement from the seven North Eastern states, called on the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) to “reconsider and lift the ongoing shut down at the earliest for the interest of the innocent general public” and to the All Assam Manipuri Youth Association (AAMYA) “to suspend the counter shut down for the interest of general public.”
NESO also urged the Government of India to take proactive steps to control the situation from further deterioration and to intervene by taking the initiative to solve the issue and to bring all the parties involved to the negotiating table so that the issue can be resolved amicably.
Earlier on March 21, the SAPO initially called the ‘total bandh’ along the National Highway 2 (Dimapur to Imphal road) for 72 hours against non-withdrawal of Manipur armed personnel stationed the ‘disputed’ Kezoltsa area. The blockade was later extended for an indefinite period from midnight of March 23 stating that the “Manipur government has failed to withdraw its armed personnel and permanent structures within 72 hours.”
Meanwhile, the AAMYA on March 27 announced an indefinite ‘counter shut down’ from midnight on the National Highway 29 (Assam part).
Stating that the NH 2 is “the lifeline of Manipur and the adjoining areas,” the NESO underscored that the indefinite shut down has “greatly affected the lives and the livelihood of the innocent people.” NESO has always maintained that peoples to peoples dialogue is to be encouraged so that the people on the ground do not suffer, it said while appealing to both the organisations to lift the ongoing shut down at the earliest for the interest of the innocent general public.
NESO comprises of the Khasi Students’ Union, All Assam Students’ Union, Naga Students’ Federation, Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Twipra Students’ Federation, All Manipur Students’ Union, Garo Students’ Union, and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union.
