Stop border fencing: ATRPF
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 07 2014:
The All Tribal Rights Protection Forum (ATRPF) Manipur strongly condemned the ongoing construction of Border Fencing in the boundary of Manipur and Myanmar as it would lead to diversion of some portion of the land to the neighbouring country.
While the Government of Manipur proclaims for the integrity of the Manipur State, it is an unacceptable work of the Manipur Government with respect to the ongoing Border Fencing which is solely a responsibility of the Manipur Government.
This construction of the Border Fencing has been a threat to the tribal people as most of the tribal land in Manipur is going to be merged into Myanmar territory.
The affected districts by the fencing are three numbers viz Chandel, Ukhrul and Churchandpur.
The villages are nearly 100 in numbers such as Choro Khunou, Nampisha, Kangpat Khulen, Phaikot, Hollenphai etc.
The indigenous tribal to be most affected are Kuki, Maring and Tangkhul, conveyed a press release.
Furthermore, there are many unjustifiable works of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) since long back and the hill district development has totally nil in block level, it added.
Since the Government of Manipur did not entrust full power to the ADC in Manipur, there have been no sign of developmental programme that is undertaken by the ADC for the tribal areas in comparison with the neighbouring States like Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura, it continued.
In this connection, ATRPF has demanded for devolution of full power to Autonomous District Council in the interest of the tribal people living in the hill districts of the State, it said.