The United Naga Council (UNC), the organisation of the Nagas in Manipur has imposed a 48-hour general strike in the "Naga inhabited" areas in the state from Thursday midnight. It will also be enforced along highways 2, 37 and 133. This was stated in a press release by the publicity wing of the UNC.
The UNC had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding, inter alia, assessment of the demand for alternative arrangement, removal of the prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC from the Ukhrul district and withdrawal of the state forces from the "Naga areas". There has been no response to the memorandum. The strike is close in protest against it. Educational institutes, medical, power, fire and postal services will not be covered by the general strike. The situation is further aggravated by the localised general strikes on different issues by other organisations.
Government sources said that in view of the firmed up stands of the state and the union governments such strikes from the UNC and other groups were foreknown. Adequate care is taken to counteract it. There are enough rice, consumer items and fuel. Besides arrangements have been made to provide armed escorts to the trucks and buses which will ply along the highways during the general strike.
The Manipur government had deployed additional forces in the Ukhrul district from July 22 following the assassination of Ngarlanzar Malue, a member of the autonomous district council of Ukhrul the previous day. Police had arrested 8 cadres during a raid in the camp of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) along with incriminating items. Prohibitory orders were clamped to maintain law and order. Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei says that no NSCN(IM) camp can be located in Manipur since the ceasefire is not extended to this state.
However Kraibo Chawang, the convener of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group maintains that after the amendment of the ceasefire on June 14, 2001 the ceasefire is in force without territorial limits. If it is not in force elsewhere it would not have been possible to hold talks between the representatives of the NSCN(IM) and the union government either in Delhi or elsewhere in foreign countries.
But Lt Gen (retd) N.K. Singh, chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group says that the ceasefire is not extended to Manipur since it is for Nagaland only. He explained that he could do nothing when forces were deployed and camps raided in Ukhrul since it is in Manipur. On July 22 Singh said that there is no designated camp of the NSCN(IM) in Manipur. What is found is just "taken note of camps". The NSCN(IM) leaders are not amused with this statement.
Director General of Police, Manipur, Saheed Ahmed told reporters that state forces shall remain in full strength in UKhrul district for some time.
