Manipur Sports University impasse persists; APC submits memo to PM
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 16 2015 :
The Asian Peasants Coalition (APC) has written a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi to stop the construction of the National Sports University and the Trans Asian Highway (Asian Highway-1) at Yaithibi Loukol in Manipur.
In the letter sent to the two leaders on May 13, APC expressed concern over the eviction using the State security forces to threaten and intimidate the villagers without taking their free and prior consent.
Irabot Foundation Manipur said in a statement that the intervention of the APC comes after representatives of the foundation raised the eviction of the villagers at Yaithibi Loukol during the fourth general assembly meeting of the APC at Jakarta, Indonesia held from April 20-21 this year.
The APC has extended support to the demands of Affected Land Owners' Association against Forced land Acquisition for Sports University seeking intervention of both the Governments of India and Manipur in the matter, the statement said.
The statement also urged the Manipur Government to stop all forms of forced land acquisition process at Yaithibi Loukol and further called upon it to concede the demands of the affected communities.
It also appealed to the State Government to protect agricultural land and promote food sovereignty in Manipur.