Tribal student bodies impose 12-hr bandh
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi/Imphal, August 30 2015 : Kuki Students' Organization (GHQ), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Students' Association Manipur (ATSUM), both factions have jointly called a 12-hour bandh in all hill districts of the State with effect from 6 am on Monday.

Confirming the decision to Hueiyen Lanpao, All Tribal Students' Union (ATSUM) President Maun Tombing said the decision was taken after holding a joint meeting of all the tribal student leaders at ATSUM office between 2 pm and 4 pm.

In a separate joint press statement signed by Seiboi Haokip, General Secretary KSO-GHQ; Alexander Huten, General Secretary ANSAM; Maun Tombing, President ATSUM and Joseph R Hmar, Acting President ATSUM, the student bodies said that the 12-hour bandh has been called against the introduction of The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, The Manipur Land Revenue & land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the emergency sitting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 28 .

The tribal student bodies pointed out that the Bills introduced in the Assembly had overlapping points with Article 371 C and Manipur Hill People Administration Regulation Act, 1947 .

The State Government had been apprised by various student bodies several times, said the joint press statement.

While holding the State Government and the Hill Areas Committee responsible for any problems arising out of the agitation, the tribal student bodies also warned that when the tribal rights are threatened by way of systematic infringement, the bodies will not remain silent spectators.

Various tribal bodies including KSO, ANSAM and ATSUM had released statements earlier expressing their resentment over the three Bills in the agreement signed between the state Government and the JCILPS on August 25.However, the three bills were introduced in the emergency sitting of the Manipur Assembly on August 28.The Bills will directly or indirectly affect tribal interests, asserted the student organisations.

Meanwhile, in a separated press release issued on Sunday, Thadou Students' Association (TSA), General Headquarters Secretary General James Haokip said TSA also will extend support to the call of 12-hour hill area bandh.

TSA appealed the public to cooperate on the issue stating that the Bills were meant to "trample on our rights." Nagas are neither against nor in favour of ILPS demand: UNC K Kopham Kanshouwa United Naga Council (UNC) on Sunday stated that Nagas are "neither against nor in favour of the demand for Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur" .

The view was relayed to Hueiyen Lanpao by UNC Vice President TS Warngam Anal in a telephonic interaction.

Warngam said "Nagas are neither against nor in favour of the demand for ILPS in Manipur as the hill areas of the State comes under the purview of article 371 C of the Indian Constitution.

He said "any bill introduced and passed by the State Assembly should not infringe upon the rights and interests of the tribals as envisaged in this particular article" .

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