JAC rolls out 6 days agitation to mark one year of protest CCpur gears up to observe Tribal Unity Day
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, August 25 2016: The JAC against Anti-Tribal Bills is gearing up to begin a wide array of agitations beginning tomorrow to mark the one-long-year of protest it has steered since August last year following the spontaneous uprising witnessed in the aftermath of the Government clearing three Bills in the State Assembly that have been dubbed 'anti-tribal' .

As a run up to the Tribal Unity Day, which will be observed on August 31, a week long agitation cum public meeting, torch rallies, traditional gun salutes and various other forms of protest will be organised at Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ongoing tribal movement in Manipur, and its vicinity, said a statement released by the committee.

"The JAC would like to humbly appeal to all tribals, specially those residing at Churachandpur and its vicinity, to be part of the various events and activities as we mark one year of our unrelenting struggle to safeguard tribal lands, rights and identity through a separate administrative set up for the indigenous tribal people in the present Manipur", said the statement.

Lighting of candles at 6.30 every evening beginning tomorrow till August 31 as a mark of respect to the nine 'Tribal Martyrs' and the sacrifices they have made is one regular activity it has planned throughout the week-long agitation.

Normal life will also take a beating as half-day shut down has been proclaimed for tomorrow (Friday) and the day after (Saturday).

Thereafter, a 48 hour total shutdown will be imposed from midnight Monday and will continue till Wednesday midnight, according to the agitation schedule released by the JAC.

With the half-day shutdown expected to wind up at 12 noon, several schools have hurriedly tweaked their school timing to avoid missing their classes during these half-day shut-downs.

Other forms of agitation planned alongside the shut-downs include sit-in-protest at the village level and peaceful rallies by different parties on Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

Churachandpur District Diesel Auto Owners' Union will hold the first rally on Friday during the half-day shutdown.

Ex-servicemen and widows, senior citizens and college students will hold a rally on Friday.

On Monday, womenfolk will hold the rally while the public will take out a mass rally on Tuesday.

The JAC's schedule also said there will be a gathering at Salpha Pumbuk at 6.30 pm on August 30 to pay tributes to the 'nine martyrs' which will be followed by mass prayer and release of flying lanterns.

The Salpha Pumbuk event will wind up with a torch rally.

The JAC has requested tribal individuals owning licensed guns to perform traditional gun salute while those owning traditional gongs have also been requested to sound them nine times as a mark of respect to the fallen 'Martyrs' at 9 am of August 31, the Tribal Unity Day and the culmination of the week long agitation.

An event to pay homage to the 'nine Martyrs' is also planned at district hospital mortuary and the main event of the Tribal Unity Day will begin at 11am.

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