M A I N   N E W S

Centre to review Naga truce
Leaders toughen stand
S. Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

Union Home Minister L. K. Advani at the all-party meeting on Manipur at North Block in New Delhi on Saturday.  — PTI photo

New Delhi, June 23
In an apparent attempt to mollify the collective angst of ethnic Manipuris and their political representatives over the expansion of the Naga ceasefire, the Centre said today that it would “review” the various issues arising from the truce.

Even though this represented a scaling down of the earlier stringent stand of the Union Government, political leaders from Manipur were hardly in a mood to deviate from their demand for a “complete review of the ceasefire”.

The Centre’s decision followed a three-hour-long brainstorming session with visibly agitated political leaders of Manipur, who despite assurances by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani insisted that nothing short of a contraction of the area of the ceasefire would be acceptable to them.

The tough posture taken by the state politicians could be reflective of the fact that emotionally stirred ethnic Manipuris had full political endorsement of their demands.

“The joint representation given by the political leaders from Manipur will be considered by the Central Government and the various issues arising out of the ceasefire will be reviewed,” Mr L.K. Advani said in a brief statement, without taking any questions, after a meeting at the North Block here.

Mr Advani claimed that the “brief formulation,” which he read out, was with “the agreement of all” participants at the meeting.

However, the Manipuri leaders maintained a very hard posture and said they would meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to demand a review of the Naga accord and if their demand was not met they would resign en masse from the state Assembly.

Describing the meeting as “extremely fruitful,” Mr Advani said the leaders from the state expressed their views in a “free and frank manner and also gave vent to their feelings” but all contributions were “invariably constructive”. Among the suggestions made by the political leaders were holding interaction with student bodies, NGOs and political parties not represented in the state Assembly or Parliament, he said.

“As these were issues which not only affected just Manipur but all other northeastern states, the Centre has taken due note,” he said.

Ministers of State for Home I.D. Swami and Vidyasagar Rao, Home Secretary Kamal Pande, Centre’s representative for Naga peace talks K. Padmanabhaiah, Additional Secretary P.D. Shenoy and other senior Home Ministry officials also attended the meeting.

Among those from the state were Union Minister of State for Food Processing Chaoba Singh, former Chief Ministers Radhabinod Koijam (Samata Party), Rieshang Keishing (Congress) and R.K. Dorendra Singh (BJP), Assembly Speaker S. Dhananjoy Singh, L. Chandramani Singh (MSCP), O. Joy Singh (MPP) and two MPs W. Angou Singh and H. Haokip.

Later, the Home Secretary told reporters that Mr Advani had reassured the political leaders that under no circumstances would the geographical boundaries of Manipur or any other northeastern state be disturbed.

Mr Advani, he said, had stressed the desirability of a “holistic approach” to the situation “as any conclusion would have repercussions in neighbouring states apart from Manipur.”

“There is an urgent need to remove the misgivings in the minds of people and to assure them of the determination of the government of not disturbing the geographical boundaries of the northeastern states,” Mr Pande said.

“Efforts will be made to have further dialogue through invitations to the agitating groups to discuss in Delhi as well as in Manipur. Commitment to the Constitution, democracy and peace will not be diluted,” he said.

Later, holding a press conference, seven of the 11 Manipuri leaders who attended today’s meeting said they would meet the Prime Minister to demand for the review of the ceasefire and if their demand was not met they would resign en masse.

“Today’s meeting was the first step in climbing to the point of agreement to be arrived between us and the Government of India. Mr Advani did not make any commitment, but we are hopeful,” Mr Chandramani Singh said.

“We fully endorse the movement launched by the people of Manipur and we want complete withdrawal of ceasefire extension to other states beyond existing Nagaland,” he said, adding that they would camp in New Delhi to press for their demand as the deadline was till July 31, after which the truce agreement would come into effect.

They said the Manipur leaders were unanimous in demanding the withdrawal of the clause “without territorial limits” from the ceasefire agreement the Centre had entered into with the NSCN(I-M) in Bangkok after parleys on June 13 and 14.

12 AMSU leaders held

Imphal, June 23
At least 12 activists of the All-Manipur Students Union (AMSU), including its president and general secretary, were arrested late last night, official sources said today.

AMSU president Oinam Shyamchand, secretary general Chungsat Khongsai and 10 others were arrested from different parts of Imphal last night, they said. The AMSU is spearheading the anti-ceasefire agitation in the state.

Several organisations condemned the police action and demanded the immediate release of the activists. PTI