No dialogue without clear cut agenda, asserts JCILPS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 20 2015 : The State Government sent an invitation to the JCILPS on July 14 and it was responded the next day but there has been no correspondence between the two sides after that, stated the Committee in a statement issued to the press today.

Since then, JCILPS has not received any invitation from the Government.

It is really tragic that the Home Minister was trying to project the office bearers of JCILPS in the wrong light by claiming that the committee has been invited for a dialogue.

This manoeuvre is clear indication of the Government's insincerity, the statement added.

There must be a solution to the ongoing mass movement.

Holding dialogue with the Government in the absence of any clear cut agenda has all the potential to create wrong notions among the masses about JCILPS office bearers.

If there should be dialogue, it should be held at an appropriate time in a transparent manner with full knowledge of the public, it said.

If the situation demands, JCILPS would talk with the Government but only after due consultation with the masses.

There is no compulsion to be hasty.

If the Government invites JCILPS for its views and thoughts after drafting a fresh Bill, the invitation would be welcomed with open arms.

Since the case at the moment is otherwise, it is clear that the Government's manoeuvre is more about suppressing the ongoing mass movement.

Asking if the Government has so far initiated any meaningful step, the JCILPS maintained that the Government has not done anything worthwhile except attempting to malign the image of the committee's office bearers.

Earlier, six JCILPS office bearers were pulled up and lodged in the lock-up of Porompat police station.

They were picked up the next morning for a dialogue with the Chief Minister.

Memory of the particular incident is still fresh.

By meeting some Editors, lawyers and film personalities, the Government expressed keen desire to pacify the people's movement.

But the Government has not shown any sample of the proposed fresh Bill to any one so far.

Desires and aspirations of the JCILPS have been already put in front of the Government.

The All Political Party Committee had submitted a 282-paged document containing six salient recommendations.

What the Government needs the foremost is political will to protect indigenous people of the land, it asserted.

Introduction of an effective Bill and get it passed by the State Assembly should be the first step of the Government.

If the Government's invitation to JCILPS is about studying a drafted Bill, it would have been quite meaningful.

JCILPS welcomes all suggestions from different quarters to hold dialogue with the Government.

But the committee would be more happy if they also take into consideration people's sentiments and pulse.

JCILPS also welcomes the invitation sent by the Chief Minister through some well known personalities.

But the committee has a nagging fear if holding dialogue turns out to be a setback for the ongoing movement.

This would amount to betraying Lamjing Meira Sapam Robindhood and all the protesters who have been grievously injured.

The Ibobi-led Government's expertise in suppressing popular movements through delaying tactics is well known.

This time the movement must end with a resounding success for the survival of all indigenous communities depend on it.

If the movement ends in failure, Manipuri people can never rise again.

While conveying gratitude to all the masses for the sustained struggle, it urged the masses to carry forward the democratic movement in the form of mass rallies, human chains, sit-in-protests and gheraoing of the houses of local MLAs and Ministers until an effective and acceptable Bill is passed.

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