TSA GHqs expresses deep concern
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 20 2016:
The Thadou Students' Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) has expressed deep concern over the alleged deceitful campaign launched by some elements within the tribal community in cahoots with the Government of Manipur to take away tribal land in and around Haolenphai village, near Moreh, allegedly for setting up an 'International Model Township' against the interests and wishes ofthe community.
In a statement, James Haokip, secretary general, TSA-Ghqs said that Manipur Government's previous attempt to grab the land in the name of smart city had been thwarted with the exclusion of Haolenphai/Moreh from the list of smart cities across India.
And now the Government is apparently deploying some vested interests to make another attempt to grab the land in the name of international Model Township or whatever name and also in the name of expansion of wildlife sanctuaries in tribal lands around Moreh, said the statement.
It is most unfortunate that in sharp contradiction to their role and community expectation, leaders of some Moreh-based tribal organisations used deceiving or coercive methods to obtain signatures of leaders of Kuki Chiefs Association, Moreh and some others to make it appear like they have consented to give the land away to the Government on January 15, the statement said.
The truth, however, is that the chief of Haolenphai and other villages and the villagers, in protest against the plan, rightly refused to sign the piece of paper that was going to deny them their rights to live in their own land, it said.
Strongly condemning the alleged act of coercion and deception, the TSA pledged never to accept any agreement between any parties that is against the wishes and interests of the community.
Together with the public and other tribal organisations, TSA will fight tooth and nail against such nefarious plots in order to protect tribal interests.
Manipur Government must stop manoeuvring to grab tribal lands and to undermine tribal interests, the TSA said.
If the Government is serious about its slogan of State integrity, it must have the political will to close the gap between the disadvantaged minority community and the dominant majority community by respecting the sentiments, cultures, history and rights of the tribals instead of dispossessing them of their lands and denying them their rights, it added.
Over the decades before and after independence and becoming a part of the present day Manipur, the tribals have lost control over large chunks of their traditional lands and they cannot afford to lose more to become homeless and landless people in their own homeland, it said.
TSA appealed to the organisations concerned to distance from the anti-tribal game plan and to respect the sentiments of the people and honour the very purpose of the formation or existence of their respective organisations.
Or else, they will only invite the wrath of the people and be fittingly treated as antisocial elements, it cautioned.
It further urged the Government of Manipur against manipulating the fake agreement, for such an agreement will be rendered null and void.
The affected tribal community had sent out a strong and a clear message of outright protest against the previous attempt and any move by the Government to forcibly grab the land will be resisted in the same manner and this will potentially lead to an unprecedented tribal uprising, it added.