Imphal, June 18 2010: A joint meeting of Naga Hoho, United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (South) and Naga Women's Union, Manipur (NWUM) held at Kohima today has decided to suspend the over 60 days economic blockade enforced by ANSAM along National Highways-39 and 53 in Manipur temporarily with effect from 4 pm today.

Issuing a joint declaration after the meeting, the Naga bodies said that the decision to suspend the blockade temporarily has been taken in deference to the request of the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, leader of the Opposition of the Indian Parliament, the student communities of the neighbouring States and the Indian civil societies at large, to lift the economic blockade, which was conveyed through the Naga Students' Federation.

According to the joint declaration signed by Naga Hoho president Keviletuo Kiewhuo; speaker of UNC SK Milan, president of NSF Mutsiikhoyo Yhobu, president of ANSAM Adani David, secretary of NWUM K Marigold and co-convenor of Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (South) Phakhami, the meeting endorsed the UNC's decision to declare the 'imposed District Council elections in the Naga areas of Manipur as null and void' The meeting fully endorsed the decision of UNC to sever all times with the Government of Manipur and to till up the vacuum so created by the severance, and demanded that the Government of India should immediately make alternative arrangements for the Nagas in the present State of Manipur, the joint declaration conveyed.

While reminding the Government of India that their assurances and commitment given to the Naga people to remove State armed forces and Section 144 CrPC and demilitarisation of the Naga areas of Manipur have not been fulfilled till date, the meeting also demanded that the assurances be complied with immediately.

Condemning declaration of UNC and ANSAM leaders as offenders and fixing of price tags on them by the Government of Manipur, the meeting also decided that the agitation programme of the people will continued in different forms and at different levels till the aspirations of the Naga people is fulfilled, the joint declaration said.

The meeting also reaffirmed that the Indo-Naga peace process be expedited and carried forward to its logical conclusion, it added.