Applicability of NSCN-IM's ceasefire pact, FA in State? UCM agrees to wait till CM’s return

    26-May-2019

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 25: Even though the deadline set by the United Committee Manipur (UCM) for the State Govern-ment and the Government of India to come out with an unambiguous clarification whether the ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM covers Manipur or not has expired, the civil society organisation has agreed to talk about the matter after Chief Minister N Biren returns from Delhi.
An understanding to this effect was reached during a meeting between CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam and a UCM team led by its president Sunil Karam this afternoon.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Sunil Karam pointed out NSCN-IM’s recent claim that the ceasefire agreement it signed with Government of India at Bangkok on June 14, 2001 extends to Manipur and the Framework Agreement signed between the two parties on August 3, 2015 at New Delhi encompasses all Naga inhabited areas in addition to Nagaland.
In order to ascertain the rebel outfit’s claim, UCM set a deadline of 72 hours last Wednesday for the State Government and the Government of India to come out with an unambiguous clarification.
Even as the deadline expired today, UCM received a written invitation from the State Government for a meeting. Subsequently, UCM held a meeting with CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam.
During the meeting, UCM asked the position of the State Government as well as the Government of India on the NSCN-IM’s claim, Sunil said.
Karam Shyam suggested that another round of meeting should be held on a broader theme after Chief Minister N Biren returns from Delhi. Nonetheless, Karam Shyam maintained that the Government would act in line with the people’s pulse.  As suggested by the CAF&PD Minister, UCM would wait till the Chief Minister returns to Imphal but there is no change to the UCM’s position on the issue, Sunil asserted.
In case the State Government fails to spell out its position on NSCN-M’s claim, UCM would launch a mass movement from the very next moment, he cautioned.
He said that a written representation would be sent to the Central Government too demanding a concrete reply on the issue.