UMK puts record straight
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 30 2014 :
Uipo (Khoibu) Maruo Koukartuo, UMK (The Khoibu Union), in a statement issued by its president here today has clarified that the series of claims made by the Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA) are baseless and without foundation.
The Khoibu Union said that Uipo (Khoibu) is one of the oldest indigenous ethnic tribes of Manipur with its own history, traditions and cultures.
The Dewan of Manipur enlisted the Khoibu tribe as a separate tribe of Manipur on June 6, 1949 when Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Manipur demanded the list of scheduled tribes living in the State.
However, the list was modified in the year 1956 with smaller communities like Tarao, Kharam, Thangal and Khoibu omitted from the list.
Giving details, UMK in a statement said that recently, Tarao, Kharam and Thangal tribes had been recognized by both the Centre and State Government in the scheduled tribe list.
The recognition of the Uipo (Khoibu) tribe was left out once more in the recent modified list.
The Manipur Legislative Assembly Hill Area Committee (HAC), in the year 2002 and 2011, recommended the recognition of the Khoibus as a separate tribe to authorities concerned.
Several rounds of talks have also been held between leaders of Maring Frontal Organisations and Uipo (Khoibu) leaders to work out an amicable solution acceptable to both the tribes without any positive result as such.
GPRN took the initiative to resolve the conflict between the two tribes through meetings, with both Maring and Uipo leaders separately.
In the latest meeting held at Dimapur on December 4, 2011, both the parties agreed to reconcile and forgive one another.
UMK has expressed their dissatisfaction with the action of their senior leaders like W Angnaikham Makunga and Kilonser towards the Uipo (Khoibu) tribe.
The union alleged that these leaders acted in the interest of the Maring tribe and not for the Naga tribe in general.
Blaming the State Government for not taking a timely decision on the matter, the union appealed to work out an amicable solution to the issue at the earliest.