Roll back April 20 pact: Haomee Federation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 12 2021:
The Federation of Haomee has demanded the State Government to roll back the 4-point agreement that was reached on April 20 between the Committee on Protection of Mt Koubru (COPPK) and the State Government at IFCD Minister, Letpao Haokip's quarter at Lamphel on 'Koubru issue' .
The federation, in a press release, said that secret pact reached on April 20 with two Ministers-Letpao Haokip and Awangbow Newmai as signitaries must be withdrawn within May 20 or else they should resign from the Cabinet.
Koubru is inseparable to the indigenous people of the land and it is the utmost duty of the indigenous people to safeguard and protect it, the release said.
Any bid to downplay Koubru, is a threat to the indigenous people and should be stopped at any cost, it said.
Certain sections of people have been provoking indigenous people on multiple occasions by claiming the ownership of Mount Koubru based on twisted historical accounts and it should be stopped at the earliest, the release continued.
The two Ministers have literally no right to reach an agreement over the issue without the knowledge and consent of indigenous people, the federation continued.
Haomee Federation went on to question how a person who remained silent over various activities within reserve forest areas including mass poppy plantation, human settlement, slash and burn, poaching etc right under his nose as a Forest Minister was allowed to sign a pact over Koubru.
COPPK has no right to have any say over Koubru, said the Federation and urged the State Government to do the needful considering the interests of the indigenous people of the land.