The meeting held at the head office of Gunpi Kuki Chiefs’ Association was attended by representatives of the Kuki People’s Forum, Kuki Chiefs’ Association Tengnoupal, Gunpi Area Chiefs’ Association, Kana Area Chiefs’ Association, Kuki Women Association for Human Rights, Dingpi Area Kuki Chiefs’ Association and the Thadou Students’ Association.
The meeting endorsed the UKLF’s demand for setting up Kuki (Khulmi) Development Council under 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The UKLF has already submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister in this regard.
Later speaking to media persons, president of the Kuki People’s Forum, Chandel, Lhunthang Mate said that it has been almost five years since the Suspension of Operation (SoO) was signed in 2005.
He asserted that the time is ripe to begin political dialogue between the Government of India, Govt of Manipur and Kuki armed groups included under KNO and the UPF.
If the Government of Manipur is serious and sincerely committed to achieve its policy for equal development of both the valley and hill area of Manipur, extension of 6th Schedule is necessary particularly in view of the size of Assembly Constituencies and their electorates in the hill areas of Manipur, Lhunthang asserted.
Comparatively, the size of one Assembly constituency and its electorates represented by one hill MLA is three to four times larger than their valley counterparts.
Efforts for equal development of the hills and valley of Manipur shall never bear fruit under the present scheme of things unless a new and novel administrative mechanism for the hill area is worked out. As such, there is a need for a separate administrative unit under the provision of 6th Schedule without slightest disturbance to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
Observing that territorial integrity of Manipur is a very delicate and sensitive issue, Lhunthang asserted that any political demand compromising the territorial integrity of Manipur is not healthy to the age old harmony in the State besides being not pragmatic in the sense that Manipur is among the smallest States of the Indian Union in terms of geographical area and population.
Any idealistic proposal to carve out a separate political unit compromising the State’s territorial integrity is not feasible and practicable as that would be too fragmented unit(s).
The core issue in the hill area of Manipur is development and the only solution is application of 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution, he asserted.
Lhunthang further appeal to the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to hold an early political dialogue with SoO signatories in order to bring a permanent political solution for the Kukis under provision of the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Zoumi Folk Dance festivalIMPHAL, Dec 13:The Kolkata based Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur and the Paite Tribe Council, Churachandpur organised a Folk Art Festival of Zoumi at YPA Hall, Churachandpur, yesterday, said a statement issued today.
A modern cultural dance was presented by the ZMC on theme “Shifting of cultivation and Cloth Making.” Six cultural troupes representing different tribes and organisations presented their cultural dances.
ZRA camp on PC's itinerary
IMPHAL, Dec 13: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow, will be going to designated camp of SoO signatory ZRA at Teikot in Churachandpur to meet the cadres.
On the other hand, ahead of the visit of Union Home Minister to Imphal tomorrow, security measures have been stepped up and mass search operation were launched at various places including Keishampat, Churachandpur Parking, Kwakeithel Bazar, Khuyathong Traffic Point, Paona Bazar, etc. According to an official source, the Union Home Minister is expected to arrive at Imphal at around 2.30 pm tomorrow after attending the passing out parade of North East Police Academy, Shillong.
Soon after arrival, he is set to visit GP Women’s College and interact with the students.
After that, the Union Home Minister would chair a review meeting on the law and order situation of the State along with the Chief Minister and other security agencies of the Combined Headquarters at Raj Bhavan. He will also hold a separate meeting with the Governor.
The following day (December 15), the Union Home Minister will leave in a helicopter for Moirang to inspect Sendra and Loktak Lake as well as to interact with the local leaders. From Moirang, he will proceed to Singat and proceed to the designated camp of ZRA at Teikot.
COPTAM's 60-hr bandh on the card
Imphal, Dec 13 : The Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has today communicated its decision to move ahead with its proposed 60-hour general strike in all the hill districts of Manipur starting from 5 pm of December 15 and till 5 am of December 18.
Information conveyed by its information and publicity wing said that inspite of the inconveniences at this juncture, COPTAM has been compelled to go ahead with its proposed 60-hour general strike given the total indifference of the State Government.
However, during the proposed general strike media, medical, schools as well as incoming inter-State tourist buses shall be exempted from the purview of the bandh, said COPTAM.
It has appealed to the people of the State to consider the perspective in which COPTAM has launched the strike and the compulsion under which it has been fighting to restore the rights of tribals in the State, and to extend maximum support and co-operation in the interest of the tribal people.
It is worth mentioning that the 60-hour general strike in the hill districts of Manipur by COPTAM was earlier proposed on December 7 but had to be deferred in view of appeals from different civil organizations following certain programmes in the State.
The general strike follows the pending demands of the tribal body on issues ranging from overlapping census, redrawing of Jiribam district, "imposed" urbanization in Moreh, State Government’s proposed IRB battalion in Vangai and the proposal to set up the rehabilitation camp of KCP (Lallumba) at Leikun in Chandel district etc.
COPTAM had earlier said that "Compromising our ancestral land tantamount to compromising our people and future," and that "CoPTAM respected State integrity but the mere proclamation of State integrity without moral integrity of the people is meaningless."
ZHRF expresses concern
IMPHAL, Dec 13: Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) has expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions of the indigenous tribal and their right, particularly in North Eastern region of India.
In a press release sent out on the occasion of the 62nd International Human Rights Day observed on December 10 for lasting peace and security based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Charters.
It said that there are more than 220 distinct indigenous peoples in the North-Eastern region of India which is approximately 12 pc of the total population of India (Cencus-2001).
During the colonial period, the British came to know/realize that they had dealt with the indigenous peoples in the north-east regions that differed markedly from those living in the plains and who were more strongly influenced by the main land Indian culture. They took up a policy of segregating the hill/tribal from the dominant plain peoples, it added.
Such protective regulations went far beyond merely putting the hill tracts of the region under different administrative system, the press release said.
It added, however, in the post independence period, the north-eastern region, for the last five decades or so, has experienced political unrest, insurgency and ethnic clashes. This political unrest combines two distinct conflicts: ethnic clashes among the indigenous groups and political movements against the State. The demands of the militants range from basic socio-economic equality, competition for land, political rights and regional autonomy to outright independence. Thus, the ethnic clashes and political movements go hand in hand resulting in a complex ethno-political situation. Other aspects of the region’s ethnic politic are insurgent or armed movements, ZHRF added.
The present socio-political unrest is also an offshoot of unequal power relations among the ethnic groups. In other words, the social turmoil has more to do with ethnic aspirations and an afford to protect ethnic territories and resources than political independence. By and large “mainstream” population considers the Northeast a “land of Conflict,” but very few go beyond them to understand the situations that lead to social and political unrest.
It further said, changing land relations are crucial because they affect the cultural system especially community land/chieftainship and individual rights.
Thus, the factors leading to ethnic conflicts are numerous but land and a resource is basic to all of them. Overtime land has become central to the conflicts. In the midst of such conflict situation, the human rights situation in the region has deteriorated since 1960s. Unlawful killings, recruitment of child soldiers, abductions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations and war crime have increased. Civilians are being attacked by both sides as fighting escalates between States and Non State Actors of the region and among the ethnic based militants themselves. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured, it added.
