Protest against Ravi's visit to Imphal

From our correspondent

IMPHAL September 10: Thousands of women vendors of the three markets of the Imphal town came out in the streets on Thursday when R.N. Ravi the central interlocutor on the talks with the NSCN(IM) visited Imphal for

a short period. The activists of the Coalition of the Indigenous Rights of Manipur also protested the visit along the road with slogans.

The women took out a demonstration in the major streets in Imphal and then tried to assemble at the main gate of the Raj Bhavan. However a large number of policemen intercepted and foiled their attempt. They were pushed away. A woman vendor said that Ravi had kept the people and the government in the dark about the talks and signing of the accord with the NSCN(IM). Ravi is enemy of the people of the state and as such he was not welcome.

Khetrimayum Romesh, the secretary of the Coalition of Indigenous Rights of Manipur said that Ravi lied to the people by announcing that he had met 11 times with the chief minister Okram Ibobi. However it was a lie and the chief minister had clarified that he had met Ravi on two occasions purely on official matters. These meetings had nothing to do with the talks and inking of the accord.

The double tongued interlocutor was used to drive a wedge among the people.

Before leaving Imphal Ravi held meetings with leaders of the NGOs. They are reported to have told him that all communities have been living in peace and harmony in Manipur since the very inception of this ancient kingdom. They said that a handful of armed persons cannot sp the cordial ties among the different communities.