Influx of illegal immigrants worries Liangmai chiefs
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 17 2022:
Expressing deep concern over ever increasing influx of illegal immigrants, Eastern Liangmai Naga Chiefs/Chairmen Association (ELNCCA) has cautioned that Manipur will become another Tripura, where the indigenes have become minority in their own land, if the present government fails to act immediately.
In a statement, ELNCCA said that illegal immigrants mainly from Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and Bangladesh being facilitated for vote bank politics and electoral gain in the last 70 years have caused rampant settlement in the state particularly in Kangpokpi district and these illegal immigrants have gained a demographic edge over indigenous communities.
According to the ELNCCA statement, population of a particular community in 1951 was hardly few thousands but today their population has exponentially increased to 2.80 lakh.
Taking advantage of their numerical strength and demographic dominance, these illegal immigrants are indulging in rampant destruction of forest and encroachment on land apart from creating land disputes in Liangmai areas, it claimed.
The exponential growth of villages and the facts and circumstances show that there is a clear case of 'politics of demographic engineering' so as to tilt the balance of power against genuine indigenous minorities of the Nagas, especially the Liangmai community.
Consistent attempts are being made to reduce Liangmai to voiceless and invisible minorities in their own land through systematic and structural manipulation and snatching away land, economic and political rights, ELNCCA maintained.
According to ELNCCA, there were only 27 villages or hamlets with very few families in 1971 of the said community but their settlement increased to 84 villages in 2001 and by 2020, the total number of such villages in Kangpokpi increased to 94 .
They were allegedly backed by state politicians and underground groups.
At present, there are two Suspension of Operation (SOO) designated camps of the armed outfit established by the government to check growth of militants.
However, establishment of such camps resulted in increasing anti-social activities, cadre recruitment and extortion apart from entry, shelter and exit passes for illegal immigrants from across the porous borders.
These camps also facilitate generation of revenue through poppy cultivation, timber business from the virgin forests and jungle raj, ELNCCA added.
Manipur is facing a major problem of migration as it shares 398 km of porous border with Myanmar.
The particular community, who themselves are the outlanders, have brought more people to increase their strength both socially and politically.
One recent instance is the bringing in of thousands of illegal immigrants after the Myanmar military coup in February 2021, ELNCCA said, adding that this community is letting in illegal immigrants especially in Kangpokpi district without informing the competent authority thereby causing tension amongst the indigenous communities in Kangpokpi district.
While urging the present government to act on the looming issue, the chiefs' association further said that illegal immigrants should be identified by using advanced technology.
It also said that outlanders and immigrants cannot be placed on equal footings with indigenous communities of Manipur.