ATSUM calls for peaceful co-existence
Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, August 21 2015 :
The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) has today declared that it wants peaceful co-existence of all communities in the State even as it asserted that it has and will always uphold the rights and interest of the tribals in the state.
A statement issued by ATSUM president Muan Tombing said the union is disheartened over the manner in which the JCILPS organisers and volunteers carried out the protest wherein many agitators have turned violent with a communal tone and allegedly targeted the tribal community.
It said any agitating locality has imposed at will total bandhs and general strikes any time without prior information causing immense hardship and damage to the tribal community.
Many vehicles belonging to the tribals were targeted and an ambulance belonging to KKL GHQ was attacked and smashed during the course of the agitation along highways leading to hill districts by the agitators.
Even as the hill tribal leaders with a view to maintain peace and harmony among all sections of the society had decided not to allow organising band, blockade, rally etc in the hill districts particularly in Churachandpur and Chan-del under any pretext without their consent, the MCM in violation of the hill leaders' decision and agreement forcibly held a rally in a direct challenge to the tribal leaders.
The MCM even managed to hire armed groups from across the border who opened fire injuring four persons on August 18, it alleged.
Moreover, ATSUM has argued that the hill areas of 'outer Manipur' had been inhabited, owned and ruled by an independent tribal chief/khulakpa since time immemorial and the tribals had never been under the Manipur Maharaja.
The tribals and the hill areas was forcibly subjugated and annexed by the British imperialist and placed under the district administration of the British Indian Political Agent, it added and quoted Sir Robert Reid, the then Governor of Assam who reportedly wrote, 'Separate rules govern the administration of the Hills' in the 'History of the Frontier Areas Bordering Assam in 1893-1941' and noted the hill tribes as 'the independent tribes' .
It is with all these facts at hand that ATSUM has declared it stand for all indigenous tribals of Manipur and maintains that any injury or harm committed towards any of the tribals on communal lines shall be considered a direct threat to the interest of the tribal who inhabit the hill areas since time immemorial.
ATSUM has in the statement made it known that it outrightly condemned the attack on an ambulance carrying sick patient and the communal tone allegedly used by MCM with the backing of armed groups from across the border.
It also declared that it shall stand for peaceful co-existence of all communities in the State and shall work toward this end but maintains that tribal should not be forced to participate in any agitation with regard to demand pertaining to the interest of a particular community.
'The fact remains that the tribals were neither invited nor included to represent the hill areas in the drafting committee member set up by the state Government on the 21st July 2015,' it added.
ATSUM has in the meantime said any agitation in the hill areas should be of tribal interest and issues upholding their rights.
Appealing, over again, to all sections of the society to maintain peaceful co-existence and mutual respect for one another, the statement of ATSUM warned if however their goodwill appeal is not heeded to, it shall not remain a mute spectator.
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