CCpur JAC boycotts R-Day, UNC calls 48 hrs strike
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur/SPT, January 14 2016: The JAC constituted against the 'anti-tribal' Bills has today called for boycotting the upcoming Republic Day celebration across all tribal areas in the State.

It also announced its plan to clamp a five-day bandh on all the highways passing through tribal areas in February.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) has called a 48 hours general strike in tribal areas of Manipur from January 24 midnight seeking intervention of the Government of India with regard to certain issues.

The JAC's decision was taken at a public consultative meet held at Synod hall, said a statement.

The JAC in its statement said, "We believe that abstaining from the celebration of the Republic Day in all tribal territories of Manipur is the only option available to voice our sentiments against the continued injustice" .

The adoption of the Constitution of India in January 26, 1950 has realised self-governance for Indians.

Numerous provisions have been incorporated in the Constitution to safeguard the interest and rights of the tribal people but these constitutionally guaranteed rights and privileges have always been denied to the tribal people of Manipur till date as the State Government refuses to acknowledge them and the Central Government continues to turn a blind eye to their plight, it said.

The JAC further said that their boycott call was made as an act of non-cooperation movement for failing to protect the tribal people's rights both by the Government both at State and Central level.

The JAC together with various tribal organisations should also call for a total chakka bandh from February 1 on all the highways passing through the tribal territories of Manipur as well as on all National projects located within it, the statement added masses on current issues and developments.

Observing that there is need for a tribal forum in the State the meeting also resolved to form a think tank comprising of like-minded elders and intellectuals from different tribal communities of Manipur.

The meeting also called for a more active participation of the ADCs in the tribal movement and entrusted them with all the issues relating to filing of FIR by the families of the martyrs.

The JAC would also apprise the Centre of the need to promulgate President's Rule in the State as the State Government has failed on issues relating to the three anti-tribal Bills and it was evidently admitted in front of the JAC by the State Cabinet on December 29, 2015, said the JAC release.

Meanwhile, the UNC has decried the indifferent attitude shown by the Government of India towards the bodies of the nine tribal martyrs still lying at the morgue of CCpur civil hospital after they were killed in police action while defending the inalienable rights of the tribal people in the aftermath of the passage of the three alleged anti-tribal Bills on August 31 last year.

Accusing the Government of Manipur of grabbing tribal lands by carving out more than hundreds of hills tribal villages and placing them into the four valley district of Imphal in the name of re-organization of Police District boundaries through the notification and flash orders issued by the Home department, UNC demanded that orders should be immediately revoked and all hill tribal villages should be placed back in within their original hill districts.

Security forces had killed two Mao Naga promising students on May 6, 2010 at Mao gate, two Tangkhul Naga youths on August 30, 2014 at Ukhrul and very recently four civilians were shot and four seriously beaten up at K.Somrei Naga village on December 27, 2015 by Manipur police commandos stationed at the base camp of ABCI K.Somrei village.

Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel should be immediately withdrawn from ceasefire and SoO covered areas, it said.

The UNC informed that they shall abstain from this year's Republic day celebration for taking the role of fence-sitter by the Government of India in spite of so much chaos, disorder, political suppression etc prevailing in the hill districts of Manipur at hand.

"The Nagas and tribals will never compromise under any circumstances in defending our land and people rights", it asserted.

Educational institutions, medical, water supply, electricity, religious programmes and media will be exempted from the preview of the general strike, it added.

Comment