Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 02 2010:
Decrying the alleged failure of the State Government to give a positive response to its rightful demands, Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has announced a series of agitation against the Government.
According to a statement issued by its secretary Thangkam Lupheng, from August 2, COPTAM would picket Government offices and vehicles in the hill districts and stop the ongoing census operations, 2011 .
On August 10, a mass protest rally would be taken out simultaneously in all the hill districts.
This would be followed by another protest rally in the National capital.
Extensive poster campaign, sit-in-protest and hunger strike would be also launched to demonstrate that the tribals are ready to pay the highest price to protect their rights.
The demands of COP-TAM include maintaining the original boundary of the hill districts, conducting the census operation in the hills by the respective district administration, de-linking the issue of unwarranted revenue collection from the present census operations, maintenance of all land records by the respective hill districts, etc.
While condemning the attack on CDSU leaders by Imphal-bound bus drivers/conductors and public at Poubakchao on July 29 last, COPTAM has also decried putting of a sign post by PWD in the middle of Kangvai village.
COPTAM has also demanded the Manipur Hills Committee (HAC) to take up these issues on or before August 10 in the interest of safeguarding the rights of the tribals.