Cheranamei urges Union home and defence ministers to intervene in Siroy impasse

IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The Outer Manipur MP, Mani Cheranamei, has been lobbying frantically with the Union home minister, P Chdambaram as well as Union defence minister, AK Antony, for their intervention in the Siroy standoff between the NSCN(IM) and Assam Rifles and end the impasse for the sake of the safety of the villagers in the vicinity.

In two faxed identically worded letters to the two Union ministers on Jan 23, the MP said tension is simmering after 17th Assam Rifles troops encircled "the NSCN(IM) camp at Siroy Village in Ukhrul district of Manipur and erecting barbed wire fencing around the NSCN(IM) camp during the past few days."

Cheranamei`s letter also explained that "former defence minister, George Fernandes had stated in Manipur when he was defence minister that there is cease fire in Manipur for all practical purposes. Your honour also had rightly stated in the recently concluded parliament session that insurgents in the North-East are not our enemies but our own people."

He also noted that civil organisations of Ukhrul district had requested him to take up the matter with the two ministers for immediate intervention to avoid any untoward situations. "The women folk of surrounding villages have been camping round the clock between the AR men and the NSCN(IM) camp braving the chilly winter cold appealing both the parties to restrain from attacking one another. The public of Ukhrul district had also taken out a huge rally to put pressure on both the parties to avoid any untoward situation." the letter said.

In a follow up letter to Chidambaram, the MP Cheranamei urges Union home and defence minister to intervene in Siroy impasse explained in more details the background of the issue. "Sometime back I had circulated the memorandum submitted to the Hon`ble Prime Minister on the demand for a Naga homeland, signed by all the Naga MLAs and myself. I am enclosing a copy because it gives a background to the immediate problem which has forced me to trespass on your valuable time." the second letter said.

Giving more details of the peace process with the NSCN(IM), the letter said the process was set into motion at the instance of late Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao "to resolve the Indo-Naga conflict."

It was agreed that the talks would be premised on the conditions that it would be unconditional, it would be held at the highest level and it would be held outside India.

The letter said "I was informed that the 17 Assam Rifles has surrounded NSCN camp which has been established near Shirui Village without any provocation from the NSCN(IM) side."

It also said that 500 Assam Rifles troops have moved into the area and that they have erected electrified barbed wire fencing around the NSCN(IM) camp.

The letter further said the matter ought to have been left up to the ceasefire monitoring cell to decide whether the NSCN(IM) cadres were to go to the designated camps in Manipur or those in Nagaland. "Since last year there are three designated camps in Manipur, Bunning in Tamenglong district, Oklong in Sanapati district and Phungchong in Chandel district."

It should also have been left up to the ceasefire monitoring cell to decide whether there should be another designated camp in Ukhrul district, Cheranamei`s letter said.

It said the ceasefire cannot be partial and confined to Nagaland alone as the NSCN operates from all over the North East. "The ceasefire in 1964 till 1972 with NNC covered Manipur. Your honour will appreciate to know that Mr. Thuingaleng Muivah, Gen. Secy of NSCN, Mr. VS Atem, convenor ceasefire monitoring cell, (cental) and hordes of NSCN cadres are from Manipur."

It said "the fact that ten days have gone by and the issue has not been resolved and there is no authority which has the power to intervene is a reflection of how serious the problem is and does not bode well for the future. I also urge you to make cease fire formally effective in Manipur to bring better understanding between the negotiating parties and for smooth progress of the ongoing peace talk."