| NSF team meets PM |
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NEW DELHI, JUN 14 (NPN):The five member representatives of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) headed by advisor, Achumbemo Kikon; president, Mutsiikhoyo Yhobu; speaker, federal assembly, Kelhouneizo Yhome; tribunal general, Imchatoba Imchen and tribunal member, Kapani Krichena met prime mininster, Manmohan Singh and home minister, P. Chidambaram here at the capital and later conducted a closed door meeting at Nagaland House 29, Aurangzeb Road New Delhi lasting for about an hour to discuss over the current crisis of economic blockade in Manipur.
The meeting between the NSF leaders and the prime minister ended on a positive note where the prime minister himself stated that Naga political issue needed an honorable settlement and in this context appealed the educated Naga youth especially the NSF to create a peaceful atmosphere to carry forward the peace process and political dialogue. The economic crisis in Manipur on Monday entered its 63rd day of agitation in the two National Highways 53 and 39 carrying essential commodities entering Manipur from Assam. Several students’ union and other counterparts from the neighbouring states had earlier appealed asked the NSF to call off the blockade on humanitarian ground. On Monday’s press conference, the NSF clarified to the media persons present that the organisation was not affiliated to any political party but a firm student body reflecting the voice of youth and its jurisdiction covering the Naga inhabited areas in Arunachal, Burma, and Manipur etc. The student body also articulated that on February 26, the sub-ordinate body of NSF, ANSAM and the UNC submitted a memorandum to the government of Manipur for amendment of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 sensing the very Act challenged the existence of the Nagas as well other tribal people living in the present state of Manipur. However, it said the government of Manipur ignored the appeal made by ANSAM and UNC and forcibly imposed the Autonomous District Council Election against the will of the people, and emphasized that the ongoing agitation in the Naga areas was only an expression of democratic right. Advisor, NSF, Achumbemo asserted the Nagas should be brought under one political roof, adding it was not demanding anybody’s land. Centre to break blockade IANS: The central government Monday said paramilitary troopers would be used to break the over two-month long economic blockade enforced by Naga groups in Manipur to ensure supplies of essentials into the region, facing an acute shortage of food and medicines, officials said. Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai told IANS that troopers from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) would escort trucks carrying food and medicines by National Highway 39 from Assam to Manipur passing through Nagaland. “The process would begin from Tuesday and we shall see to it that food supplies reach Manipur,” Pillai said by telephone from New Delhi. NSF suspends agitation NPN: Close on the heels of the Centre’s warning that it would have to use force through paramilitary troops to clear the two-month old blockade imposed along the national highways, the NSF has decided to suspend the blockade with effect from 6 pm of June 15. According to NSF vice president, Sinhilo Thong and general secretary O. Wati Jamir the decision came in consideration of appeals made by the prime minister, union home minister, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, government of Nagaland, NPCC, NBCC, AMCO and other individuals and organizations. Stating that it would “temporarily” suspend the ongoing agitation, the NSF asserted it could resume the agitation “any moment”, if the government of Manipur failed to fulfill its demand “in toto.” NSF also affirmed that it would extend all logical support to the ANSAM and UNC for any course of action as the issue raised by them were paramount concern for the Nagas. The NSF delegation Monday called on prime minister, Manmohan Singh and apprised him of the present situation in Naga areas and also submitted a memorandum. According to a joint statement issued by NSF vice president, Sinhilo Thong and general secretary O. Wati Jamir, the prime minister gave a patient hearing for about 50 minutes and appealed the Federation to lift the blockade so as to create peaceful atmosphere to carry forward the political dialogue. The signatories said the prime minister also assured the delegation that the government of India was serious in finding an honourable solution to the Naga political issue. It also said Dr Manmohan Singh also expressed respects on the “uniqueness” of the Naga culture and civilization. According to the signatories, the NSF delegation had also held meetings with All Assam Students’ Union at Guwahati, All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union at Itanagar, Khasi Students’ Union at Shillong, Mizo Zirlai Pawl at Aizwal, Tripura Students’ Federation at Agartala where it apprised them of the ongoing agitation. The Federation said its counterparts condemned the actions of the government of Manipur and also appealed the NSF to relax the ongoing agitation so as to create peaceful co-existence amongst the neighbouring communities. 
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