Manipur Govt repressive, anti-tribal, says UNC
48-hour Bandh On Highways To Begin Thursday Midnight
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Senapati, September 02 2015:
United Naga Council (UNC) has called a 48-hour National Highway bandh from September 3 midnight till September 5 midnight in protest against the passing of the three Bills -- the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenues & Land Reforms (7th Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shop & Establishment (2nd Amendment) Bill, 2015 and other two resolutions in the State Assembly.
The apex Naga body has termed the Bills as anti-tribals and that such move of the State Government is a direct challenge to the tribal people of Manipur.
The UNC then said series of democratic agitations in this connection are in the pipeline.
It has also called upon all right thinking citizens of Manipur and Tribal leaders and civil society bodies to extend support and co-operation to the proposed UNC bandh.
Warning any bandh defaulters with serious consequences, the UNC has informed the general public that, any violation of the said bandh by anyone will be doing at their own risk for which the UNC will not be responsible.
It may be noted that, with tribal student bodies namely ANSAM, KSO and ATSUM already gearing up for a series of agitations in the coming days and Thadou People's Liberation Army (TPLA) announcing chakka bandh on both highways from 6pm of September 3, the UNC announced the parallel strike against the bills passed in Manipur Assembly.
According to a statement released by the UNC publicity wing, the council will strongly oppose the bills as desired by the tribals of Manipur.
Terming the Manipur Government as a 'repressive and destructive force' against the tribals, the council warned that it is ready to invest all possible means to confront the communal and anti-tribal government through democratic agitations.
Unless the Central Government intervenes immediately in the present turmoil where tribals are being subjected to 'terms and diktas of the majority community' through the collaborative hands of the present Congress Government, the UNC will stand firm and strong till the last drop of blood to protect and defend the rights of the tribals in Manipur.
Recalling the brutal killing of tribal people, the UNC noted the infamous 2010 May Mao Gate incident where two innocent lives were mercilessly butchered by Ibobi led Government forces and injured hundreds of women and rendered homeless to thousands for months.
The killing spree of the anti-tribal Government through its killing machineries continued till today.
The barbaric killing of two youths on August 13, 2014 in Ukhrul during a peaceful rally and recent atrocities of the state forces killing 8 persons in CCpur have strongly proved the repressive policies of the communal Government, the council said.
The tribals in Manipur have by now concluded that the present O Ibobi led Congress Government is making all efforts to destroy the tribals through bloodbath.
"Military and gun barrel might of the Government will not undermine the unity of tribals at this juncture but strengthen our bonding against a bias Government which represents only a particular community and not the tribals of Manipur," UNC said.