Dimapur, April 20 (MExN): The All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) has issued a statement saying that the Manipur government should “give some breathing space” and engage in consulting the people over the contentious 3rd Amendment Act of 2008 of the Manipur District Council Act.
This appeal has come from fear that there would be tribal and communal backlash. Manipur is currently reeling from an economic blockade imposed by Naga organization demanding for repealing the Manipur District Council Act and the district elections under the Act’s aegis. “Various tribal based civil societies has every reason to oppose holding of election under the 3rd amendment act of 2008 of the ‘Manipur District Council Act’ as there is no doubts that the said amendment has some confusing as well as unsatisfying points and clauses,” the ATSUM stated. But, the organization said, it is deeply apprehensive of the polarization of the tribal peoples of Manipur along the line of those in favor of holding the said election and those who are against it.
“In this kind of precarious situation, the only way out is – ‘why don’t the state government give some breathing space?’ — and take a little more time to have wider consultation and discussion on what best will be for the tribal people of Manipur,” the ATSUM stated.
The organization said that the state government of Manipur definitely has reasons and compulsion to hold the district council election that has been denounced by the tribal peoples of Manipur and Manipur hills areas’ committee.
It has been protested against for the last more then 2 years with the demand for giving more autonomy and power under the 6th Scheduled Provision of the Constitution of India, ATSUM said.
“ATSUM has put lots of efforts to bring the tribal people of Manipur together for a common cause and we will not like to see their polarization on community or ethnic lines as we have seen and experienced in the past,” the ATSUM added.
This appeal has come from fear that there would be tribal and communal backlash. Manipur is currently reeling from an economic blockade imposed by Naga organization demanding for repealing the Manipur District Council Act and the district elections under the Act’s aegis. “Various tribal based civil societies has every reason to oppose holding of election under the 3rd amendment act of 2008 of the ‘Manipur District Council Act’ as there is no doubts that the said amendment has some confusing as well as unsatisfying points and clauses,” the ATSUM stated. But, the organization said, it is deeply apprehensive of the polarization of the tribal peoples of Manipur along the line of those in favor of holding the said election and those who are against it.
“In this kind of precarious situation, the only way out is – ‘why don’t the state government give some breathing space?’ — and take a little more time to have wider consultation and discussion on what best will be for the tribal people of Manipur,” the ATSUM stated.
The organization said that the state government of Manipur definitely has reasons and compulsion to hold the district council election that has been denounced by the tribal peoples of Manipur and Manipur hills areas’ committee.
It has been protested against for the last more then 2 years with the demand for giving more autonomy and power under the 6th Scheduled Provision of the Constitution of India, ATSUM said.
“ATSUM has put lots of efforts to bring the tribal people of Manipur together for a common cause and we will not like to see their polarization on community or ethnic lines as we have seen and experienced in the past,” the ATSUM added.
