Imphal, June 09 2010: The United Naga Council (UNC) has asserted that it was shocked to learn that a declaration has been issued proclaiming its Acting President and as well as the Acting President of the All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) as "wanted" and fixing of rewards on them by the Government of Manipur while it was reviewing the ongoing total blockade with its constituent units.

The UNC in a release issued by its Publicity Wing said, "After outrightly rejecting the demands of the tribal people on the ADC election, the Government of Manipur is relentlessly trying to put into place district councils in the hill areas under the unwanted District Council (Hill Areas) Act, 2008 through a stage managed election process" .

Contending that rather than addressing the material issue at hand, the Government has chosen to issue arrest warrants against the Naga leaders, the UNC decried the Govt move as a brazen action.

The invitation for talks on the issue of ADC election and economic blockade in the form of a letter from the Chief Secretary through the DC, Senapati addressed to the president (UNC) was received at 2.30 pm of May 26, 2010 the day of polling for the 1st phase of ADC elections, recounted the release and described the initiative as impertinent on the ground that this response came after a lapse of over three months after the demand for reviewing of the Act was submitted to the State Government.

While condemning the State Government's design to criminalise the UNC for demanding justice for the tribal people, the Presidential Council of the UNC is constrained to issue an ultimatum of five days with immediate effect to the State Government to revoke the arrest warrant on its President and also withdraw the bounty announced in connection with the same, failing which the UNC will have no option but to intensify its agitation on all possible fronts, it asserted.

Meanwhile, the Mao Students' Union, voicing strong resentment and condemning the arrest warrant issued against Naga leaders said such steps which are applicable against terrorist is uncalled for.

The arrest warrant issued against the presidents of ANSAM and UNC is yet another manifestation of the evil motive of Ibobi-led Govt said an MSU release that also observed that the move was intent on defaming and destabilizing the good office of ANSAM and UNC.

terming the Naga mandate leaders as acting President is an insult to the office and the post, it maintained while insisting that ANSAM's economic blockade is an expression of democratic right to defend the tribal's rights from meitei oppressors and suppressors, when dominant meitei commune tried to intrude and snatch the tribal's land, resources, culture and lives.

Total negligence and enforcement were meted to the peoples call by going ahead with meitei centric agenda of Ibobi and his regime.

Alleging that the State Government had been indifferent to sentiment and aspiration of the Nagas and the tribal people, MSU expressed that the Government's motive is to crush the tribal's rights as had been demonstrated when appeal was rejected to rectify the 3rd Amendment 2008 Act and deferment of the ADC polls.

The decision of the GoM for direct confrontation is strongly condemn.

Treating Naga leaders to criminal status and tarnishing the image of ANSAM is irreparable.

The Union question, the integrity of Ibobi regime in handling the situation.

Whether sectarian or for the whole denizen? whether govern for valley only or the whole state? We demand immediate withdrawal of all state forces from Naga areas and the wanted list issued, MSU president Lokho Ozho Mao in a release.