'Death knell to Manipur's territorial integrity'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 23. Political leaders from Manipur who met the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K.Advani, here today reiterated that the territorial integrity of Manipur was unquestionable and could not be discussed.

In a joint memorandum submitted to Mr. Advani, the leaders demanded that the Centre review its decision on the ceasefire ``without territorial limits'' and withdraw it from Manipur.

Reminding the Centre of the former Prime Minister, Mr. I. K. Gujral's assurance that the ceasefire between the Government and the NSCN(I-M) would be confined to Nagaland and Manipur's territorial integrity would be protected, the leaders said the June 14 extension was against the assurance.

``We convey to you the resentment and frustration felt by the people of Manipur against this decision of the Government. While we are not opposed to the ceasefire in Nagaland, we know that a ceasefire in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur is a springboard for the disintegration of Manipur, a death knell for the territorial integrity of Manipur,'' the memorandum said.

The NSCN (I-M) had been maintaining that ``Nagalim'' had an area of 120,000 sq km which transcended the boundaries of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.

The only way to remove the distrust and tension was to rescind the latest agreement on the ceasefire, the leaders said.

Pointing out that the agreed ground rules for the ceasefire contemplated the establishment of NSCN ``designated camps'' without defining any territorial limits, and movement of NSCN armed cadres from one camp to another, they said it would have an adverse bearing on the territorial integrity of Manipur.

The former Chief Minister and Samata Party leader, Mr. Radhabinod Koijam, urged the Centre to review the extension of ceasefire.

The people in Manipur had all along opposed the extension of ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) and the opposition had many valid reasons derived from historical events.

``The Government of India should declare in unequivocal and convincing terms that at no time was the territorial integrity of Manipur intended to be compromised,'' he said.

He also wanted a meeting of political parties, youth, NGOs and social groups of the States concerned to achieve a better and wider understanding of different points of view.

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