Imphal, June 01 2009: People of the state are unable to get the taste of true democracy even after 60 years of merger with the Indian Union, which is the most disappointing thing, said president of the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), R Yangsosong Koireng speaking at the observance of the 8th "Unity Day" today at THAU ground, Thangmeiband here.

AMUCO has been observing the day as Unity Day.

On this day, lives of 18 people were snuffed out in indiscriminate firing by security personnel to control mass agitation against the extension of the Indo-Naga ceasefire "without territorial limits" in 2001 .

The function organised by AMUCO was attended by presidents of the Irabot Foundation, Th Iboyaima, President of Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Holkhloun Lunkim, President of Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibee Lup, L Memchoubi, All Manipur Muslim Development Organisation Md Ayub Khan and vice president of Zeliangrong Cultural Council, Paojairung Thaimei as dignitaries of the function.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, AMUCO president said that one most heart breaking situation being faced by the people of the state, inhabitaned by over 30 different communities, is that people are not enjoying the true taste of democracy.

People of the state can not lead a normal life free from fear of any disturbances.

People are getting the negative effect of the governance.

Draconian laws which were imposed by the British during its rule in India are still enforced on the people and are killing them, he said.

Among others, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 which is the adoption of the British Colonial Law Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance 1942 and more draconian laws are enforced on the people of the state.

He further said, under the Act, thousands of people in both hills and valley areas have been killed without conducting trial under the law of the land during the last 50 years.

Many women of the land had been raped by the security forces apart from torturing thousands of people.

Not ending at these, efforts are on to break the bond of love and brotherhood among the people living together for hundreds of years.

They are posing a challange to the unity and integrity of the state, Yangsosong Koireng said.

The clear example of this, Koireng added, was that of eruption of Naga-Kuki clash at the end part of 1992 that resulted in the lost of life of thousands of innocent people which was followed by spate of ethnic clash in the state.

Against such challenges, hundreds of thousands of people of the state took out mass rallies on August 4, 1997 and on September 28, 2000, shouting slogans that the integrity of the state can not be broken.

Despite knowing all this, India government with a hidden agenda of breaking the territorial integrity of the state signed an agreement with the NSCN (IM) to extend the ceasefire agreement "without territorial limits" in Bangkok on June 14, 2001 .

Such event which is like spraying poison for communal hatred has been defeated by the unity of the people.

Life of 18 people lost in the bloodshed uprising which wounded to thousands others.

He also said that to able to inherent the last message of the people who scarified in the event, AMUCO is observing the day as Unity Day.

He also appealed the people to take oath to live together in harmony on this 8th anniversary.

President, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Holkholun delivered his speech in his own dialect which was translated by one Meetei Kulla.

Before delivering his speech, he also presented a special necklace for Kuki Thadou to AMUCO general secretary NC Khuman and his tie to its president Yangsosong Koireng as a mark of brotherhood love.

He appealed the people of all communities to live in harmony and peace with the observation of the June 18 event.

Dhanabir Laishram, advisor of the AMUCO who also spoke on the occasion expressed concern over the non-stop killing of people in the state by both security forces and underground elements.

He said that in the continuing everyday killing spree, life of more than 200 people have been claimed in two to three months.

It seems like people are in queue in the jaw of death and called for another people agitation to bring an end to such unrestrained killing.

In the gathering presidents of the Irawat Foundation, Th Iboyaima, Poirei Leimarol Apunba Lup, L Memchoubi, All Manipur Muslim Development Organisation Md Ayub Khan and vice president of Zeliangrong Cultural Council, Paojairung Thaimei also spoke and called the peole to stand united and fight to the challenges ahead of the people together.

They also talked at length of the people of the land who have been suppressed from rights live by various internal and outside forces.