No free passage for Life Saving Drugs(LSD) for time being: SHDDC
40 Women begin fast unto death
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 16 2011: Demanding full-fledged Sadar Hills district, large number of Kuki women on the 65th Independence Day of the country staged mass protest at Kangpokpi wearing black dresses.

Meanwhile, more than 40 Kuki women have began fast unto death at Kangpokpi, Saparmeina and Motbung areas challenging the decision of the state government to use forces in clearing the highways for the sake of the people of the state.

Strike supporters along the National Highway 39 from Kangpokpi to Saparmeina shouted slogans against the state government alleging the government of sucking blood of the people of Sadar Hills instead of appointing the vacant post of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP).

Ngamboi Sangamoim a woman leader of the strike supporters told Hueiyen Lanpao that the people of Sadar Hills are protesting by wearing black dresses on the 65th Independence Day of the country because it is not a day for the people of Sadar Hills to celebrate sidelining the 40 years old demand of a full-fledged Sadar Hills district.

Women supporter of SHDDC shouting slogan to declare Sadar Hills a full fledged district

She said that people of Sadar Hills want to know the reason of avoiding the 40 years demand from the state government.

She further said that Sadar Hills is not an area inhabited by the Kukis only, but there are populations of Meeteis, Nepalis, Nagas and many other Nagas in the area.

"We are not demanding a separate district for the Kukis but for all the communities living in the Sadar Hills" she said.

She also said that creation of a separate Sadar Hills district in no sense will affect the territorial integrity of the state.

Another Kuki leader Nemboi told Hueiyen Lanpao that they have offered prayer to the Lord under the guidance of their beloved Pastor for a full-fledged Sadar Hills district and the Kukis believed that their demand will soon be met with.

In the sametime, many women who began their fast unto death protest from today questioned the state government the reason for not granting their demand even though he termed the demand as a legitimate one.

They said that they have come forward to dedicate their lives for the cause and will fast until and unless the state government concedes to their demand of a full-fledged district.

While people all over the country are celebrating the Independence Day as a Red Letter Day, people of Sadar Hills are marking the day as a Black Day since there are none to rejoice on this day, they said.

Another leader from Saparmeina told Hueiyen Lanpao that the people of Sadar Hills condemened the decision of the Council of Minister of the Ibobi led SPF government to force open the NH 39 by deploying personnel of MR, IRB, CDO and para-military forces instead of considering their demand.

If any such act is initiated by the state government people of Sadar Hills face them to their death.

Meanwhile, the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) today turned down a proposal of the North East People's Organisation (NEPO) to allow free passage for Life Saving Drugs (LSD) during the ongoing general strike on the national highways.

Firmly denying the proposal of NEPO, the SHDDC told them that they will not allow free passage even for LSD for the time being but will discuss about the proposal in its executive committee meeting.

Speaking in a meeting at Kangpokpi today SHDDC spokesperson Seikhothang Haokip said that the ongoing general strike is affecting both the hill and valley people.

However there is no other option left to the people of Sadar Hills.

He urged the people of the state to bear with the hardships and inconveniences for the sake of the Sadar Hills.

He also said that SHDDC condole the death of a driver who sustained injuries during the general strike.

Founder Chairman of NEPO, Manipur Chapter LC Meinabanta, Associate Convener Ch Chidananda, member P Premananda, members P Haokip and other members of NEPO met leaders of SHDDC and Kuki Women's Union to discuss their proposal.