Imphal, February 21: Governor SS Sidhu, whose "dissatisfied brethren" address to the people on the occasion of Republic Day prompted the proscribed UNLF to come out with its four point proposal, today said that the move of the outfit is positive and a good development, but hastened to add that the proposal to involve a third party to any negotiation is not always a good idea.

In an exclusive chat with The Sangai Express at the Raj Bhawan this afternoon, the Governor candidly admitted that the proposal of the UNLF is a good development but opined that the involvement of a third party is not advisable.

A number of things have to be understood and both sides should realise the ground situation and not go around laying pre-conditions for any talk to proceed, the Governor opined.

The matter has to be handled rationally with a good understanding of the ground reality, he added.

However it is a good sign that a major outfit like the UNLF has spoken its mind and this is a good development, he added.

The UNLF had mooted a plebiscite under the UN to resolve the Indo-Manipur armed conflict and the presence of a UN peace keeping force to ensure that the plebiscite is carried out in a fair manner.

The outfit had also offered to deposit its arms with the UN peace keeping force while laying down that India should also withdraw its army and para military force from Manipur for the plebiscite to be held.

Holding fort, the Governor said that it is important that both sides do not set pre-conditions and added that considerable ground work still remains to be done.

"It is too early to surmise what will happen," added the Governor.

The proposal put forward by the UNLF has already been highlighted to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, informed the Governor.

To a query whether the Raj Bhawan will take any proactive step, as was witnessed when the Governor arranged a meeting between the Apunba Lup and the Prime Minister, the Governor replied that he is studying the situation at his own level.

On his now memorable description of the underground cadres as "dissatisfied brethren" which was in total contrast to the term "misguided youths" used by other leaders earlier, the Governor said it was with sincerity and conviction that he had used the term.

"After all they are also true sons and daughters of Manipur and they are our dissatisfied brethren," added the Governor.

Though Manipur is a vibrant society with a gifted people, who have excelled in many fields, the State has been going through a bad patch, observed the Governor and added that in such circumstance, the people who suffer the most are the weaker section of society.

The vicious cycle of poverty, low investment and low income needs to be broken, said the Governor and added that corruption is one factor that has led to the disenchantment of the people.

The need of the hour is development and this can come only when there is peace in the State, said the Governor but stressed that insurgency is not the only reason why the State is lagging behind the other States but also amongst the NE States.

"The situation is complex and one needs a multi-faceted approach to deal with the situation," he observed.

The fund that Manipur receives from the NEC is lesser than what the other NE States are receiving, said the Governor and added that this is primarily because Manipur has not been able to utilise the fund released by the NEC on time.

Stating that the Look East policy of the Govt of India is an opportunity not to be missed by the State, the Governor said that there is the pressing need to show case Moreh to other ASEAN countries.

The need to upgrade Moreh town as the commercial hub of the Look East policy has already been highlighted to the Prime Minister, said the Governor.

The State Govt has also asked HUDCO to work out a project report to develop Moreh town so that the benefits of the Look East policy is fruitfully tapped, informed the Governor.

"Instead of the 22 items that are in the trade items, I have suggested that a negative list be formulated in which only goods which are barred from trading are listed and permission is given to other goods for trading," added the Governor.

This information has been conveyed to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, said the Governor and added that he plans to meet the Union Commerce Minister on this point too.

Time should not be wasted as the 8000 kms stretch ASEAN Highway connecting India to countries like Myanmar and Thailand will become operational by 2006/07, said the Governor.

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