Nagaland NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah to make rare visit to Somdal, Ukhrul in Manipur
Thuingaleng Muivah, NSCN-IM general secretary, will visit his native village in Manipur next month. He will travel from Dimapur to Ukhrul and Somdal on October 22. He will return on October 29. The Council of Nagalim Churches will hold a special prayer. Earlier, the Manipur government blocked Muivah's entry in 2010.
NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah will make a rare visit to home in Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
A communique from NSCN-IM stated, “The Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) has cleared the proposed visit of NSCN-IM general secretary and Ato Kilonser , Thuingaleng Muivah, to his native village of Somdal in Ukhrul district next month.”
As per the approved itinerary, Muivah will travel from Dimapur to Ukhrul and Somdal on October 22 and return via Somdal–Senapati to Dimapur on October 29. Ahead of the visit, the Council of Nagalim Churches has been requested by the organising committee to arrange a special prayer programme for all national workers on October 5, the first Sunday of the month.
The request was formally conveyed in a letter signed by Francis Ningshen, Member Secretary of the organising committee.
Earlier there was a stand off when Muviah proposed to visit his village. In 2010 during the tenure of former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh, his proposed entry into Ukhrul was blocked by the Manipur government.
The organising committee has described the journey as “a moment of great importance” for the community, urging people to pray for peace and the smooth conduct of the programme.
Greater Nagalim has been one of NSCN-IM's core demands. Greater Nagalim stipulates the integration of Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. There is stiff opposition to the NSCN-IM's demand in these states.
In 2001, Manipur went up in flames and even the state legislative assembly was targeted. Many people lost their lives when the ceasefire between the Centre and NSCN-IM was extended without territorial limits.
Centre and NSCN-IM are holding peace parleys. There is a stalemate between the government of India and NSCN-IM over the contentious issue of separate flag and constitution. NSCN-IM has been demanding a separate flag and Constitution which the government of India had rejected.
Manipur is under President rule. The state has witnessed ethnic strife and resulted in the death of more than 260 people.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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