GUWAHATI, May 20 � As Manipur continues to reel under acute crisis of essential commodities due to the ongoing blockade of NH-39 by various Naga organizations, a civil society forum, North East Peoples� Organization (NEPO), has appealed to the Union Government to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
Various organizations of the region have already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to take appropriate steps to lift the road blockade and protect the territorial integrity of the North East.
The highway was blocked in Manipur and Nagaland in protest against the Manipur Government�s decision of not allowing the NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his birth-place Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
�The complete blockade of the arterial road has left Manipur in a lurch. As the State depends on supply from outside, it is now reeling under the unprecedented crisis of all the essential commodities, life-saving drugs and fuels,� said N Mohilal of the NEPO addressing a press meet at the Guwahati Press Club today.
�The NSCN (IM)�s claim that the districts of Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel of Manipur and a few areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are a part of greater Nagalim is a clear reason for suspecting the intended trip. It is the prime duty of the Union Government to protect the territorial integrity of the north-eastern States,� he added.
�The NH-39, passing through Nagaland, is a favoured road as the other two National Highways, NH-53 passing through Silchar and NH-150 passing through Mizoram, are much longer routes and severely damaged,� he mentioned, adding that though the government is trying to airlift the life-saving drugs and open up NH-150, more effective steps are required to improve food and medicine supply.
The organization also said that if the blockade would continue for longer, it would incite counter-protests and the situation would go beyond control.
Ruling out the possibilities of demand for declaring �Emergency�, the NEPO members said that it would damage the age-old relationship between the Manipuri and Naga people. �A forceful action like emergency would badly hit the mutual ties between the Manipuris and the Nagas. We appeal to our Naga brothers to lift this blockade as it is also affecting their economy,� said Montu Ahanthem, spokesperson of the organization.
Protesting the proposed Manipur visit of Muivah, NEPO members said that the people of Manipur are behind the Manipur government�s decision to allow Muivah to visit Somdal if he drops the demand for a division of Manipur.
