UNC's 48 hr bandh from Oct 22 midnight
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Senapati, October 20 2015: The United Naga Council (UNC) has today announced a 48 hour bandh in "all the tribal districts" in Manipur from midnight of October 22 in protest against the three 'anti-tribal Bills' and two resolutions on August 31, 2015 by the Manipur Legislative Assembly as well as other anti-tribal policies.

Essential services including PHED, electricity, medical, religious ceremony, funeral programme and educational institutions will be exempted from the purview of the bandh, said UNC.

The UNC said the 'continuous ill treatment and anti-tribal policies' pursued by the Government of Manipur has its manifestation in myriads form.The three Bills and two resolutions passed by Manipur Legislative Assembly are draconian and anti-tribal and they're simply another manifestation of decades old exploitation,subjugation and suppression of the indigenous tribal people in the present State of Manipur.Some cases may be cited here under,' the UNC noted.

It said the State Cabinet adopted a decision to implement the Manipur Land Use Policy in 2014 in the entire State of Manipur.

The UNC further said that the State Cabinet adopted a decision to abolish the Manipur (Hill Areas)Village Authority Act,1956, in 2014, which is the traditional time honoured institution of the tribals.

It also stated that the Manipur reservation of vacancies in Post and Services (for ST/SC) Acts 1976, has been kept in-operative.

The '100 Point Roster' in reservation was replaced by "200 Point Roster", 2007 against the wishes of the tribals.

"In the name of police boundary,more than 100 tribal villages in the foothills were amalgamated to the valley districts," the UNC alleged.

"The communal Government of Manipur, opposed tooth and nail the implementation of Delimitation Commission's Report in 2001," it further alleged.

The UNC also said the Government of Manipur opposed tooth and nail the peacefull solution and political aspirations of the Nagas and other Tribal people.

Militarization in the entire Hills/Tribal Areas where there is complete peace and normalcy under Ceasefire and Suspension of Operation (SoO) is rampant.

"Imposition of Meitei Mayek (script) on the tribals in all the educational institutions," it added.

It added that the "communal Government" of Manipur totally oppose and deny the Constitutional provisions of India for upliftment and protection of the tribal people.

"Any democratic form of people's movement in the hill/tribal areas have been crushed using live bullets to suppress the genuine political aspirations of the people," the UNC also alleged.

"Therefore, the demand for separate administration for the Nagas and tribals outside the communal and oppressive Government of Manipur is Historically, Politically and Constitu- tionally a legitimate demand.

And as such, it is hereby appealed to all the tribal people of Manipur to extend fullest co-operation and support the proposed 48 hour bandh.

Anybody who violates the democratic movement/bandh will bear the responsibility on his/her risk" .

The UNC also urged the Government of India to intervene at the earliest.

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