Unity call echoes at people's parliament
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2015:
With the primary objective of forging unity among the indigenous people of the North East region and fight common issues collectively, the first North East Indigenous Peoples Parliament was opened today at Khuman Lampak Kangshang.
Former Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) president Ste-phen Angkang and ex-Prin- cipal, DM College of Science Dr DS Sharma attended the opening function as chief guest and president respectively.
According to the organisers, the three-day parliament is the first step towards unification of all the indigenous peoples of the North East region based on their similar culture, history and topography.
There are more than 200 ethnic communities in the North East region and they have been experiencing different forms of external challenges.
The parliament is an attempt to thrash out all internal differences.
Speaking at the opening session, Stephen Angkang remarked that the parliament is a common platform for all indigenous people of the North Eastern States.
Dr DS Sharma exuded that the parliament can find out many common issues shared by the North Eastern States which hitherto remain unknown.
Assam Meitei Apunba Lup Hqs president Wang-khem Saratchandra remarked that the parliament is a historic event but it is not yet clear whether the parliament can adopt any concrete resolution.
There are many issues which cannot be tackled by individual communities.
These issues demand collective struggle and the parliament need to adopt a concrete resolution, he said.