Burmese immigrants threatening indigenous population: IMF
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 31 2015 :
The International Meetei Forum (IMF) has expressed deep concerned about what it said "influx of Burmese immigrants" into Manipur.
"There is need to pick out and identify all illegal 'foreigners in the State," IMF advisor Dr Manoranjan said at a press meet at Epuroiba Laishang in Langol here on Saturday.
Manipur Human Rights Commission's former member and IMF president RK Rajendra was also present at the press meet.
Dr Manoranjan said the large number of Burmese immigrants in the State has posed a serious threat to the indigenous population of the State and its natural environment.
He called on the State Government to take appropriate steps at the earliest to check it.
Citing a record he said 20 percent of Myanmar's population deceased when a large number of Myanmarese immigrated to India during the period between 1990 and 2000.
He said the people of Burma, now Myanmar, are not happy in their own country because of "Okhatha" system under which day-today-life is constantly disturbed.
Okhatah literally means "king." Certain restrictions are imposed on every village under the system, he said.
The large population of Myanmar immigrated to India during the above period is now living in the States of Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and other parts of the region, Dr Manoranjan added.
"50 percent of this Myanmarese people are in Manipur.
They are cutting down trees in forests in many parts of the State for carrying out cultivation for survival.
Such activities have posed a serious threat to the environment," he claimed.
Dr Rajendra cautioned that this phenomenon is a challenging problem which will become worse every passing day in the absence of timely intervention by the Government.
He also demanded the Government to implement Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in the State in order to safeguard the indigenous population.