KPF demands extension of 6th schedule
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 01 2014:
The Kuki People Forum has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking justice and protection by extending the sixth schedule to the hill areas of Manipur.
Besides urging for the extension of the provisions of the 6th Schedule to the hill areas, the KPF while appreciating the peace process between Delhi and the NSCN (IM), however reminded the Prime Minister the genocide committed by the IM group in which one thousand Kuki people were killed and many more displaced.
Not only the insecurity in their minds is very high but threat to their existence have increased.
For these reasons, any such settlement should bring justice to the kukis too.
Not only kukis, other tribals of Manipur badly need protection, it said.
The Kuki villages were ruled by the chief with advisors according to their customary laws.
Even in past, king of Manipur never interfered in kukis affairs, kukis followed a seperate durbar set up by the then British rulers.
In fact, a senior ICS officer used to singly handle the hill administration as the vice-president of Manipur state independently.
Truly speaking Kukis has full autonomy.
Only the district council cannot handled the issues, core issues remain unattended to.
Chiefship cant be done away as it is part of our custom.
The position of elected chief remains the same for other tribal areas too as far as village administration is concerned.
We considered the extension of sixth schedule of the constitution to the existing district councils has a long way to go in providing safeguard and solving the problems faced by the tribal people.
Changes, modification of chiefs, powers and land tenure system or any other administrative system if required can be carried out with proper protocol.