Capital Project cannot destroy Lei-Ingkhol, meet resolves
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 05 2013:
A meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed for the protection of Lei-Ingkhol was convened at Lei-Ingkhol which is located between Chingmeirong and Mantripukhri under Imphal East district today.
According to a statement issued by Chairperson of Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur) Dr.Malem Ningthouja, the meeting objected to the attempt of the Government of Manipur to encroach at Lei-Ingkhol in the name of Capital Project.
The statement recalled that since 2005 there have been agitations by the villagers in association with civil society organizations against the attempt of the government to destroy village in the name of project.
The then Union Minister Oscar Fernandez had visited at night and assured that the village would not be destroyed.
However, the Government has been using various tactics to divide the villagers to weaken their collective strength to resist project.
It has been the primary conspiracy of the politicians, bureaucrats, contractors and their agents who earn profit from projects.
This approach cannot bring development, peace and democracy in our land.
It is wrong to destroy homesteads and communal land to construct officers' quarters.
In an act of forced displacement the fisher communities of Loktak, residents of Yaifa Leika, etc are suffering till date.
The 2nd May incident of Chadong village in Ukhrul, May 3rd incident of Silent Village, Mapithel Dam victims, Khuga Dam victims, the question of defending boundary and so on are the issues centred on land.
The tactics to destroy Lei-ingkhol is a project carried out under the SPA funding of the Indian Government.
Many from across the globe have expressed solidarity to the demand of Lei-ingkhol.
The issue had to be reminded to the Government of India and the concerned institutions so that the village is being projected and mistakes of the project are being corrected.
Lei-inngkhol belongs to the villagers.
It cannot be destroyed by the government, the statement added.