TFOs to hold solidarity rally for 9 'tribal martyrs' on Dec 9
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, December 06 2015 :
Under the aegis of the Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (CAATB), the Tangkhul Frontal Organizations (TFOs) will be holding a mass rally in solidarity with the 9 tribal martyrs who were gunned down by the Manipur police commandos during an uprising against the three controversial Bills this coming Wednesday, 9 December in the main streets of Ukhrul Town.
Informing this, TNL President V Weapon Zimik in an interaction at his office on Sunday evening told Hueiyen Lanpao that the solidarity rally would begin at 12 pm during which the whole town would be shutdown.
"Thereafter, the rallyists would converge at TNL Ground for a public gathering wherein Justice WA Shishak Retd Chief Justice would explain various legal aspects and implications of the three controversial bills passed by the State Cabinet recently," Zimik said.
Manipur Tribals' Forum, Delhi (MTFD) Spokesperson Lakpachui Siro who is currently in Ukhrul town to participate in the solidarity rally here, told this correspondent at TNL office that the current turmoil is an offshoot of a Constitutional breakdown which is symptomatic and deep rooted in Manipur.
Highlighting the mission of MTFD, Siro said that while the forum stands by the current movement against the 3 anti tribal bills, it strives for a permanent political settlement, adding that the absence of which is at the core of all tribal rights issues in the State.
Meanwhile, TNL has in a press statement said that a joint meeting of TNL, TSL, TKS, four zonal Longphangs and MTFD held on 5 December minutely deliberated upon the 3 controversial bills and the collective response to myriad developments confronting the Nagas and other tribal communities in Manipur.
Stating that the current crisis is nothing but a manifestation of much deeper political structural malaise and breakdown of constitutional provisions, it cited that though 43 pc of the State population reside in the hills, only 33 pc is provided representation wise.
As per the Constitutional provisions of Article 332, tribals are supposed to have proportionate representation in any States under the Union of India, but this has been totally violated in Manipur, it pointed out.
Accusing the State government of constantly attempting to undermine the Democratic fabrics that bind all States to Union of India despite the Constitutional provisions of HAC and Article 371 C in place, the statement said that the joint meeting unanimously endorsed the Centre Government intervention and appealed to address the issues of the tribal communities that seek total separation from the present State of Manipur.
At the same time, the statement lauded MP Tarun Vijay for raising the concerns highlighting the deep divide between the Hill and the Valley peoples in the Parliament on 3 December.
It also thanked MP PA Sangma convenor NE MPs Forum, Neiphui Rio former CM Nagaland, Mizoram CM Lalthanhawla, Nagaland CM TR Zeliang for their support to the tribal movement in the State, while lauding MTFD for its fight for justice of all Manipur tribal communities in the national capital.
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