Naga students federation asked to end Manipur blockade

Guwahati, June 10 (ANI): The Naga Student's Federation (NSF) discussed the ongoing economic blockade with the members of All Assam Students Union (AASU) here on Wednesday.

The blockade, following the decision of Manipur to impose a ban on Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his ancestral village of Somdal.

However, during the discussions, the advisor of NSF, Viopol Kintso, maintained that Muivah's visit was not the cause of the blockade.

He added that the move was precipitated by the ban imposed by the Manipur government on the visit of the NSF to the state.

"Why can't we be allowed to go and have our peaceful meeting in our own place? That is why NSF, to show its own resentment that there is no authority that has the right to stop an individual...an organization its own origins there. So to show resentment, NSF has declared not to allow Manipur registered vehicles to ply on Naga areas," said Kintso.

The Naga Students Union responded to a letter written to them by the AASU three days ago asking them to end the blockade on the state.

The president of AASU, Shankar Prasad Rai, told reporters that he hoped the blockade would get solved through dialogue.

"I appealed to the Naga students to stop the blockade against Manipur. They responded to it and came to meet us. We believe that all problems should be solved through dialogues," said Rai.

On May 6, state police and supporters of an ethnic Naga leaders clashed at Mao Gate in Senapati District leaving two students dead and 50 to 60 others injured.

The NSCN-IM had agreed to a ceasefire in August 1997 and launched a peace process with the Central Government to bring an end to the insurgency.

It has participated in several rounds of talks with central officials since the start of the ceasefire. (ANI)