Sunday, September 28, 2008

Centre gives go ahead for talks with more militant groups

IMPHAL, Sep 27: The Manipur government is hoping to hold talks with an insurgent group after it got the green signal from the Union ministry of home affairs, a highly placed source said Saturday.

The source further indicated that the state government is planning to invite the underground Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP for peace dialogues. However, it did not specify whether it was with all the groups of the outfit or with some select groups.

Mention may be made that the state government has sought clearance from the MHA for initiating dialogues with certain insurgent groups other than Kuki groups with whom trilateral Suspension of Operations has already been signed.

Another proposal for sending away some hardcore militants to jails outside the state put up to the MHA through the chief secretary could not get clearance immediately, the source added.

Chief secretary, Rakesh who was on a three-day visit to New Delhi to seek the clearance returned to Imphal yesterday and submitted a report on his visit and the MHA’s response on the matter.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi discussed the report yesterday itself with top officials, including the DGP, a source said.

The chief secretary during his stay in New Delhi reportedly met the Union home secretary Madukar Gupta and other officials of the MHA and discussed the two issues with them, the source said.

During the meeting the state government’s proposal for initiating dialogue with more insurgent groups and transfer of hardcore militants currently lodged at the Manipur Central Jail, Sajiwa were discussed, the source said.

The chief secretary was sent by the state government after a meeting of the Cabinet under the chair of the chief minister thoroughly discussed the matter of initiating peace talks with some insurgent groups recently and approved the proposal for sending out some hardcore militants to jails outside the state.

The chief secretary put up the matters to the Union home secretary Madukar Gupta and sought clearance on these two matters, the source said.

With regard to initiating talks with the some insurgent groups, the MHA has given clearance to the state for initiating the talks with groups the state government hoped to get a response from.

The state government is, meanwhile, hectic preparations to make a list of government nominees from among the sitting MLAs to initiate talks with the KCP, the source said adding that so far no particular MLA has been picked out for the same.

As soon as the names of the MLAs are finalized the process for peace talks with the KCP will start, the source hinted.

The other proposal for sending some hardcore militants to jails outside the state could not get immediate clearance from the home ministry, the source said.

The source also did not disclose the details on how many hardcore militants the state government wants to shift outside the state.

During the chief secretary’s stay at New Delhi, he also held talks with MHA officials regarding the operation of the suspension of operation with the Kuki based militant groups.

The source said that the chief secretary held consultations on the setting up of designated camps for the militant groups included in the SoO agreement.

Making of identity cards for the militants and financial involvement in implementing the agreement were also discussed during the meeting between the home secretary Madukar Gupta and state chief secretary, Rakesh, the source said.

Imphal Free Press

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