COPTAM deliberates on tribal issues
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 10 2012: Committee for the Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) in its 3rd Intellectual Conclave-2012 in New Delhi under the theme, "Protection of Indigenous Tribal Land Rights" has deliberated various issues pertaining to the tribal people and their land in Manipur.

The COPTAM conclave that was held at Constitution Club, Rafi Marg in New Delhi on Saturday was attended by many tribal leaders and intellectuals in Delhi.

The programme was also attended by Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Outer Parliamentary Constituency Thangso Baite.

On learning about the conclave held in New Delhi, Newmai News Network contacted the tribal leaders in the national capital and was informed that various tribal leaders and intellectuals in the programme deliberated on the 'threats' posed to the tribal land and the possible means to redress such problems.

After a prolonged brainstorming session and exchange of views on the matter, the tribal intellectuals and activists unanimously decided to reiterate the legitimate to affirm the legitimate demands of the COPTAM for protection of tribal areas in Manipur.

The participants then expressed their concerns to the indifferent attitudes of the State Government to COPTAM's numerous petitions, protests and democratic agitations to address the tribal grievances in Manipur.

COPTAM conclave underway at Delhi

The tribal leaders appealed to all elected representatives including MLAs, MPs, MDCs and others to co-operate at their own level to favorably solve these sensitive issues.

They also appealed to the Union Government for immediate intervention in the matter and initiate steps for protection of Manipur tribal areas under existing Constitutional provisions.

The conclave then endorsed for the transfer of hill land records from the adjoining valley districts to their respective hill district headquarters and to maintain land records by respective Autonomous District Councils.

"Hill Land Survey or any other form of Survey in tribal areas should be discouraged until the local self-government institutions i.e., ADCs are fully empowered to maintain land records," the tribal participants stated.

They also demanded the state government should ensure that the original district boundary is restored and maintained on the basis of the villages' land boundary recognized and recorded in the Manipur State Hill Peoples'(Administration) Regulation, 1947 .

According to the tribal leaders in the conclave, the superfluous provision of Section 1(2) of the MLR & LR Act, 1960 provided that the State government may, by notification in the official Gazette, extend the whole or any part of any section of this Act to any of the Hill Areas of Manipur also as may be specified in such notification" should be deleted from the Act.

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 per se may not be applied in the Hill areas of Manipur State.

Reserved and Protected Forests declared without the knowledge and consent of the scheduled tribe land owners may be returned to the rightful owners, the New Delhi meeting deliberated.

"Government should rather provide Statutory Constitutional Protection of Tribal land, culture, customs, values and traditional institutions such as Chieftainship rather than piecemeal Amendments to the Manipur (Village Authority in Hill Areas), 1956 and Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971," the participants said.

The conclave asserted that Moreh is a tribal/rural area and should be treated as such in all aspects.

They said the proposed creation of Jiribam district should not include even an inch of tribal areas or any villages that falls under the ADCs of Churachandpur and Tamenglong.

"Any part of hill districts which has been included under the Municipality/Panchayati Raj without the consent and approval of Hill Areas Committee (HAC) should be totally withdrawn," the tribal leaders demanded.

The conclave further demanded that appropriate Constitutional safeguards should be extended as enshrined in the Indian Constitution so as to be uplifted and protected at par with our Tribal sisters and brothers of other North Eastern States.

At the end of the programme, the conclave unanimously agreed to appoint Dr..LLam Khan Piangas the COPTAM co-ordinator of New Delhi.