UCM & AMUCO to jointly observe June 18
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 08 2013:
Ending a long- standing deadlock, United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), which have been observing the June 18 incident separately, have finally decided to observe the anniversary of June 18 incident jointly under the name of "The Great June Uprising, Unity Day" at Kekrupat from this year.
Announcing this during a joint press conference at the Kwakeithel office of AMUCO here today, KT Rehman, President of AMUCO, informed that a joint meeting of AMUCO and UCM was held in the office of AMUCO today wherein the final resolution on organizing the June 18 observance function jointly was taken.
He recalled that on June 18, 2001, the people of Manipur came out voluntarily on to the streets to openly revolt against extension of ceasefire 'without territorial limit' signed between the Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) and Government of India into the territory of Manipur.
During the protest, 18 people lost their lives in CRPF firing.
In remembrance of the 18 martyrs, who laid down their lives for the cause of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, the first commemorative event was observed in 2002.However, from the following year, the June 18 incident was being observed separately by AMUCO as "Unity Day" and as "The Great June Uprising" by UCM.
However, since the first observance itself, the families of the martyrs and the general public have been appealing for observing the day jointly as one.
Accordingly, the two organizations have on many occasions sat together and tried to sort out the possibilities of observing the day jointly, but without any conclusion.
So, after several trials and tribulations, a joint meeting held today at the office of AMUCO at Kwakeithel and finally took the decision of observing the June 18 incident jointly at Kekrupat under the name "The Great June Uprising, Unity Day", KT Rehman said.
He also appealed to the general public to help in all possible ways towards ensuring success of the observance function on June 18 .