AMUCO gears up for 22nd Integrity Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 19 2019: The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has started preparations for the 22nd Integrity Day which would be observed on August 4 in commemoration of the mammoth public rally held at Imphal on August 4, 1997 .

Speaking to media persons at their Kwakeithel Akham Leikai office this afternoon, AMUCO president Ph Deban said that the 22nd Integrity Day would be observed in commemoration of the historic public rally of 1997 which rang out a clear and loud message to the whole world that the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary are non-negotiable.

AMUCO gears up for 22nd Integrity Day

The historic rally which is said to be the biggest in the entire Asiatic continent is still quite relevant to the contemporary period because many external and internal forces continue to challenge the integrity of Manipur, Deban remarked.

Manipur which existed as an independent kingdom for millennia with its own territory, flag, culture and traditions was occupied by the British empire in 1891 .

Before the British occupation, the territory of Manipur shrank and expanded at different periods before its territorial boundary was restricted to the existing one, Deban said.

Manipur regained its independence on August 14, 1947 and an elected Government was set up after enacting a Constitution in 1948.However, king Bodhachandra who was then just a nominal head of the Government was called to Shillong and forced to sign the Merger Agreement under duress.

Soon after, Manipur was merged into the Indian Union, restrictions imposed on entry of non-location people were lifted and the Government of India unleashed a divide and rule policy which they learnt from British colonial rulers, Deban continued.

As a part of its divide and rule policy, the Government of India signed a cease fire agreement with NSCN-IM which is based in Nagaland on August 1, 1997.A mammoth public rally was held on August 4 same year to send a clear message to the whole world, particularly the Government of India that any challenge to the integrity of Manipur would not be tolerated.

The historic public rally culminated with a public convention where several resolutions were adopted, recalled the AMUCO president.

Apart from sending repeated representations and reminders to the Government of India, the Manipur Legislative Assembly adopted similar resolutions many times to the effect that the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary are non-negotiable, he pointed out.

However, the words 'without territorial limit' were inserted in the cease fire agreement on June 14, 2001, he recalled.

The three works sparked off a massive civil protest movement in the State and Manipur burnt literally.

Later, GoI removed the three words from the cease fire agreement, he recalled.

The two sides signed a Framework Agreement on August 3, 2015 but nothing has been divulged about the agreement.

As such, people are still anxious about possible threats to the State's integrity, he said.

He said that AMUCO would fight all challenges to the State's integrity in a befitting manner and it would never tolerate any racist or communal policy.

Manipur does not belong to Meitei, Naga and Kuki alone but it is a common home for the 36 ethnic communities, he asserted while appealing to all concerned to shed all communal outlooks and sectarian agenda.

He also appealed to all the people to be always vigilant and unite together to safeguard the State's integrity.

The AMUCO president said that the main function of the 22nd Integrity Day would be held at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai community hall after paying floral tributes at the Mapal Kangjeibung Integrity Pillar.

He then appealed to all community leaders, CSOs and the general public to join the 22nd Integrity Day observance.