Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, July 17:
The All Colleges Tribal Students� Organisation, Manipur, has expressed the need to do away with hegemony among tribes in Manipur and to forster respect for one another.
�When we Manipuris look back into history, different tribes had their own customary laws and respect for one another.
The state of Manipur was formed by the union of different people and tribes�, said a release issued by Benyson Jajo, president of ACTSOM.
The ACTSOM appealed to the state and Central governments, non governmental organizations, student bodies and social workers to come forward to work out ways to bring peace in the state before it is too late.
�Every dispute can be settled in a peaceful or riot by sitting together and through mutual understanding.
If any communal riot breaks out, the next general will never forgive us�, said the release appealing to all the people of Manipur to stop spreading rumor and communal ill-feeling and to find way to bring peace.
Stressing importance on education, it further expressed concern over the continued vitiation of academic atmosphere and hampering of education in the state.
Meanwhile, a combined meeting of Kuki villages� chiefs, student leaders, Kuki women leaders and social workers within the Karong, Tabubi, Kangpokpi, Saikul and Saitu constituencies will be held at Motbung on July 20 at 10 am to discuss ways and means of promoting peaceful com-existence and harmonious relationship among various communities in the state.
The meeting will also discuss the ceasefire extension agreement between the government of India and the NSCN (IM), the release said.
On the other hand, in apprehension of communal flare-up following the cease-fire issue, the Tangkhul Avenue Village Authority has appealed to the Advisor (R) to the Governor to deploy Central security forces at the Tangkhul Avenue for protection of the Naga inhabitants.
The committee pleaded that the Tangkhul Avenue has 113 houses belonging to Nagas and has a Naga population of 730.Most of the Nagas staying at rented house have left Imphal for safer places.
However the permanent residents have been badly affected by fear psychosis due to the prevailing situation in the state, it said.