Newmai News Network Imphal | December 7 The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has planned to hold a "people's convention" on December 9 in Imphal to seek "thoughts and responsibility from all stakeholders in countering the blockade in a very positive way". Addressing a press conference today at UCM office, Lamphelpat in Imphal, UCM President Elangbamm Johnson informed that "a one-day people’s convention" will be held at Gandhi Memorial Hall, Imphal on December 9 at 10 am. He reiterated the "appeal" for withdrawal of the ongoing indefinite economic blockade on national highways imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) protesting against plans to convert Sadar Hills and Jiribam subdivision as full-fledged revenue districts. Today's UCM press conference was held nine hours before the expiry of a deadline given by the UCM to the Naga body to call off the blockade. The deadline draws to a close midnight of December 7. Expressing hope that UNC would give a positive response to the call, UCM president Elangbam Johnson had on December 4 stated that the committee would agitate against the blockade stir if it was not rolled back before the lapse of the deadline. The Naga apex body UNC, however, declared barely one day after the deadline set by the UCM that it would continue the blockade. Highlighting the hardships of people reeling under the protracted blockade, Johnson said the December 9 convention aims to work out strategies to fight collectively against the “inhumane” stir as one common issue cutting across all ethnic lines. The convention is to be held also in the backdrop of the general hardships faced by the people of Manipur for the last one and a half month as an outcome of the economic blockade imposed by UNC sinceNovember 1, according to UCM President Elangbam Johnson. He said all leaders and representatives of all communities from both the hills and valley are invited to the scheduled convention in Imphal. He urged upon both the state and the central governments to invite all stakeholders to the negotiating table over the impasse. “It’s high time that the Government of India dealt with the issue with a firm stand. The Centre needs to have a serious reflection on the blockade.” The UCM leader also expressed the “risks of the political fallout” that could come up due to lack of timely intervention by both the state and central governments. Johnson further appealed once again to the Naga body to reconsider its stand and lift the blockade stir. On December 5, the United Naga Council (UNC) had asserted that the ongoing economic blockade and ban on construction of Trans Asian Railways and National projects will continue as the Government of Manipur has miserably failed to honour the letter and spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and the assurance given by the Union Home Ministry to the Nagas. The UNC said that the Naga people protested five times against the decision of the State Government to upgrade Sadar Hills to the status of a full-fledged revenue district and also Jiribam. All the protests concluded after signing MoUs between the State Government and the Naga people in which it was always mentioned that ‘all the stake holders will be consulted’ before a final decision is taken on granting district status to the two sub-divisions, added the UNC. Stating that land and Nagas are inseparable, the UNC said that it is the obligation of every Naga to defend and protect their ancestral homeland.
