AMUCO silver jubilee on Feb 12,13 ; Lets protect the common homeland collectively: AMUCO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 13 2018: The All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) has once again called upon all the communities of the State to set aside all differences and collectively protect the common homeland from all inimical forces.

Speaking to media persons at their Kwakeithel office today, AMUCO president Ph Deban said that more than 36 different communities have been living together in harmony in the State since ages which has a written history spanning over 2000 years.

Yet there have been some ugly patches in the long history where different communities confronted against each other on account of diabolical external forces and their influence, he continued.

There were communal clashes between 1992 and 1996 including the Kuki-Naga clash during which hundreds of innocent people were killed.

With their houses burnt down, a large number of people were forced to flee away from their own villages.

It was during this bloody Naga-Kuki conflict that AMUCO was established on February 12, 1993 and the civil society would celebrate its silver jubilee on February 12 and 13 at the auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society, Palace Compound, Deban said.

Asserting that AMUCO has been working relentlessly for the oneness of Manipur and its territorial integrity, he said that the past episodes of inter-community distrusts, animosity and conflicts should not be allowed to recur ever.

For the people displaced by Naga-Kuki clash in 1993, AMUCO together with Patience and Labour Society (PAL) opened a relief camp at Heijigang Keithel, Canchipur for almost five months.

The relief camp served as a common home to thousands of displaced people and some women delivered babies at the camp, Deban recalled.

AMUCO also opened a similar Relief camp at Leimaram in association with local clubs.

Another relief camp was opened at the junction of Heirok and Salungpham in collaboration with People's Society for Liberty (POSIL), and one more at Sangaithel.

The violent conflict was finally brought to an end by 1996 after AMUCO organised a series of leadership camps and reconciliation meetings at different places across the hills and valley of the State in association several civil society organisations including the UNC, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Zeliangrong Union, AMSU, CLK, Macha Leima etc, Deban said.

With the primary objective of bringing uniform development across the State, AMUCO carried out a sustained campaign christened UNIDEP (Unity, Development & Peace) in 2003.Even though Manipur was literally burning in June 2001 on account of the Bangkok Declaration signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, there was not a single incident of communal confrontation because of people's maturity and AMUCO's interventions.

The political dialogue going on between NSCN-IM and New Delhi should be resolved peacefully.

Given the prevailing critical situation, all the people need to unite together and work collectively to protect the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary, Deban said.

The silver jubilee function would feature a conference of different communities on the first day and there would be cultural programmes on the concluding day.

The AMUCO president also appealed to all the people to make donations towards the silver jubilee celebration.

AMUCO vice-president NC Moduchandra, general secretary S Sanjoy and other leaders were also present at the press meet.

Comment