Treat dialogue process with respect: UNC

SENAPATI, JANUARY 20 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) today reaffirmed its call for peaceful abstention from participation in the Republic Day, along with other civil actions, to demonstrate the displeasure of Nagas in Manipur over “the wilful insult to the Naga people and to the democratic process of dialogue.”  

Responding to a statement by the Joint Secretary, North East, Ministry of Home Affairs, published in the media on January 20, the UNC clarified that the Republic Day is “not being boycotted.”

The UNC, in a press note, further reiterated its call to press for immediate intervention of the Government of India regarding an ‘alternative arrangement’. 
It informed that on August 30, 2013, an agreement was reached to hold the next round of tripartite talks, involving the Government of India, Government of Manipur and UNC, within the “outer limit of 2 months.”

It lamented that, despite a reminder sent to the Government of India on October 29, repeated press statements on the issue being issued and two 48 hour bandhs being held, the proposed talks have not taken place.

It alleged that the Government of Manipur has “misled and wrongly influenced the GoI to suppress democratic rights and the people’s movement for securing their political aspiration. “

The UNC expressed concern that the Government of India “does not respond nor communicate, and leaves the process in a limbo, ignoring the fact that the democratic process of dialogue should be treated with respect and upheld with care.” Instead, “there is sinister design to sabotage the peaceful and democratic dialogue process by criminalising the people’s movement for securing their political aspiration,” the UNC said.    

To register protest against the “provocative statement” published on January 20, the UNC informed that a peaceful rally, which was scheduled to be held in all Naga District HQs of Manipur on January 23, will be replaced by a total 12 hours shut down (6 AM to 6 PM) on the same day.

The UNC called upon the people to be united in one accord and to effectively observe the total bandh in their respective jurisdictions. It further cautioned that any individual who wilfully defies the bandh would be doing so at their own risk.