Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 26, 2010:
Union Home Secretary GK Pillai has categorically asserted that talks will not be held with any undergound organisation on the questions of sovereignty and integration, but there is scope for entering into peace talks with all the underground organisations without these matters.
Pillai, who arrived here today on a two-day visit, told media persons at a media interaction held this evening at the officers' mess of 1st Battalion MR that his visit to Manipur is mainly concerned with reviewing the law and order situation and the developmental works being taken up in the state.
Union Home Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai popularly known as GK Pillai in Manipur said the peace talk could move forward in the region.
Peace talks could move forward in the region as Assam-based groups have started to join it one by one, he said.
"If any group absolves violence, there's a great potential for talks", he said while replying to a question on some major Insurgent outfit's stand on the government's political dialogue proposals.
Pillai said Peace talks with the NSCN-IM will also be resuming in March and added that the newly appointed Interlocutor, RS Pandey is likely to place a proposal to the outfit this time.
"I won't be able to share the proposal" he said while urging him to elaborate on the proposals.
But he ruled out the demand of integration of the Naga inhabited areas, saying it is not feasible, but "we're open to discussions".
On the first day of his visit to Manipur, he interacted with Kuki National Front (KNF) cadres at a designated camp located in the hilly terrain of Sadar Hills, about 3 km west of Saparmeina Police Station in Senapati district soon after his arrival from the national capital boarding an Indigo aircraft.
When asked, he assured that the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 will be amended "very shortly".
The Ministry of Home Affairs have placed the report before the union cabinet for its action a month ago, the home secretary informed.
Responding to a question on his recent visit to Myanmar in connection with a joint counter Insurgency operations, Pillai said the meeting with the Myanmar counter parts was very positive.
When asked about the number of insurgent groups which operates from the soil of Myanmar, he said the number of insurgent outfits are "quite large in number".
Pillai informed we've even provided necessary information including maps etc to Myanmar authority about the location and their movements.
The response is there but it seems the Myanmarese army's capability are also limited.Similarly Bangladesh is also cooperative in this regard besides it help us to nab the militant leaders, Pillai added.
On the question of frequent extortion activities by many groups including NSCN-IM,he said "We've discussed this issue, state will take action so that all illegal activities in the state could be curved".
He also gave a similar reply when the reporters asked about the frequent case of violation of the ground rules of the ongoing suspension of operation with the government forces by some kuki militants.
But Pillai is very positive about development activities to be taken up in the region.
Manipur has a tremendous potential for development activities.
But if you asked me whether the development works in the state is up to the mark, I would definitely say no as there are so many things can be taken up."It is not being harness properly", he felt.
Stating that his primary purpose of the visit is to review the law and order situation of the state, he said.
A series of meeting with the state home officials were also held besides meeting the state Governor Gurbachan Jagat and the state chief minister O Ibobi Singh.Pillai will be leaving for Dimapur tomorrow.
Union Home Secretary GK Pillai on the first day of his 2 day visit to Manipur to take stock of the situation,interacted with Kuki National Front(KNF) cadres at a designated camp of the outfit in Manipur's Senapati district today morning.
Soon after his arrival at the Tulihal airport in Imphal,Pillai along with state chief secretary DS Poonia, DGP Y Joykumar and others senior civil and security officials drove straight to Netheljang peace camp,located at the terrain of Sadar hills,40 km north of state capital Imphal and interacted with the KNF cadres besides meeting kuki civil society leaders.
Pillai,one of the 50 powerful man of the country also visited the newly built camp offices,church building,kitchen cum dining hall etc and assured that necessary help would be extended to improving it's infrastructure.Deputy Commissioner of the Senapati district Nidhi,Inspector general V Zathang and DIG Sushilkumar were also seen waiting for the arrival of the central leader at the designated camp prior to his arrival.
Replying to a question by reporters,Pillai said that he is very glad that the the KNF cadres given up gun for peace .He added.
"I'm hopeful we shall be able to provide the required fund for improvement of the camp".
When asked about the outfit's demand for a separate kuki land under the constitution of country, Pillai said that he'll be meeting some leaders in Delhi next week to hold a talk.
External Affairs secretary of the outfit H Aaron Kipgen reacting to a similar question,said that he is positive that central government will consider their demands as the demands are under the constitution.
"I'm really positive that government of India will look into our problems", Kipgen said.
But the external affairs secretary added that he will discuss on how to initiate a political dialogue which is the need of the hour during the forthcoming meeting.
Meanwhile the outfit's defence secretary Seilal Kuki in his memorandum to home Secretary,said the demand for creation a separate statehood for the kukis is a process of constant struggle of the kuki people for fulfillment of their political aspiration for self administration and safeguarding their cultural identities.
KNF which is the oldest kuki militant outfit is one of the 19 kuki militants groups which are undergoing Suspension of Operations since August 1 2005 with the government forces besides signing a tripartite agreement in August 2008. Later Pillai called Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh besides attending a security meeting with the top brass of civil and security forces in the state.The meetings was also attended by Director of Ministry of home affairs (north east)MC Mahenathan.The visiting home secretary is scheduled to leave Imphal for Nagaland's Dimapur town wherein he is expected to attend an Assam Rifles function.