Imphal | June 18 : The 10th June Uprising Day and the 10th Unity Day were observed today in a solemn note and poignant reminiscent of June 18, 2001, one at the Great Uprising Memorial Complex at Kekrupat in Imphal and the other at THAU Ground, also in Imphal. The former was organised by the United Committee, Manipur (UCM) and the latter by the All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) with thousands of people paying befitting floral tribute to the "18 martyrs."
On June 18, 2001 eighteen protestors were killed in the security force firing when the people rose up against the Bangkok declaration of June 14 where ceasefire without territorial limit was extended between the government of India and the NSCN-IM.
On Saturday at Kekrupat, speaking as a presidium member, ex-president of UCM K Lanngamba said that June 18 has been observed because the NSCN-IM and the government of India failed to include the aspiration of the people of Manipur in the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.
The peace talks between NSCN-IM and the government of India should be concluded at the earliest possible time. If it is allowed to continue without generating any concrete outcome, a June 18, 2001 like incident cannot be ruled out in the foreseeable future, he said, adding if a situation comes to a sorry pass the government of India should be prepared to take complete responsibility.
He went on to say that the NSCN-IM has been collecting taxes, engaging in kidnapping and killing for ransom, all under the shadow of peace talks, the ex-president of UCM said.
"We don’t believe in suspension of operation (SoO) and such like", Lanngamba went on to say, and added that that the ongoing suspension of operation signed by Kuki outfits has not yielded any tangible result.
“It is as though SoO has given a license to these (Kuki) underground outfits to do whatever they want with impunity. If such agreement is signed, the both the Central and the state government should meticulously monitor the adherence to or the lack thereof of the ground rules,” he said.
Lanngamba also cast doubt at the recent opening, in the presence of the chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, of the Manipur unit of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) saying that the move is aimed at achieving the NSCN-IM agenda of greater Nagaland.
“We are not opposed to visits by the Nagaland chief minister as he has lots of respect for the people of Manipur”, he said, “But the chief minister (of Nagaland) must guard himself against visits aimed at dividing the territory and people of Manipur.”
He has also appealed to the government of Manipur to pull out from the tripartite talks involving government of India and United Naga Council, besides Manipur government, wherein the Naga body has sought “alternative arrangement” for Nagas of the state outside the jurisdiction of the government of Manipur.
UCM president Yumnamcha Dilip Kumar, speaking at the same event, said that if June Uprising had not happened; Manipur today would have been just a namesake without the embodiment of the hopes and aspirations of the people. The government of India is trying to break Manipur into pieces but UCM will face the might of the India state and successfully defend its territorial integrity, he said.
In order to pander NSCN-IM, the government of India had given permission to its chief Muivah to visit Manipur and consequently two innocent lives were lost, he said and blamed the government of India for instigating one community against the other.
The UCM president also lambasted the state government saying “by staging fake surrendering drama, arresting 2-3 undergrounds or killing them in fake encounters will not bring peace in the state,” he said and offered, “only through political dialogue can peace and solution be found in Manipur.” Rev. Rehang Chothe, president of HERICOUN said that common sentiment of peace and belongingness in Manipur can be fostered when Kuki, Naga and Meitei join hands together for a better and prosperous tomorrow.
In another event at Thau Ground, christened as 10th Unity Day, observing the same incident, L Binoy, president of Senior Citizen for Society, said that even though we speak about unity and integrity the fact remains that we are a divided house with AMUCO and UCM observing the event separately. “If we really want peace and unity, we must first come together under one platform and organize the observance of June 18 together,” he said.
Let the government of India and NSCN-IM have their peace talks, but they will not be allowed, not so much as attempt, to break apart the integrity of Manipur, he added, and appealed to the public and the undergrounds to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur unitedly while also suggesting to the underground outfits to seek solution in peace talks with the government of India.
AMUCO chief KT Rehman said though Unity Day has been observed today the constant effort by some group to break Manipur has not fulfilled the real meaning of observing Unity Day. He however said AMUCO will forever strive to bring unity in the state.