MESIA opposes proposed map
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 28 2016:
Meitei Youths Front, South-East Asia (MESIA) today stated that though the State Government is comtemplating in the creation of Sadar Hills district, the proposed map which was made available to the public cannot be acceptable as it infringes upon the peripherial areas inhabited by the Meitei people in the foothills which, for centuries, have served as pasture ground for the inhabitants.
In a statement, MESIA said that it would be wise on the part of the State Government not to amend or distort the resolution passed by the Manipur State Durbar in 1932 which clearly identified Valley Village Reserve Forest, then called Khun Uyok Lam.
The ownership titles of these reserve forest areas lay with the respective Meitei villages.
There are many villages of the valley which are incorporated with the hill districts.
Khun Uyok Lam which belong to the Meitei villages are today being claimed to be part of the proposed Sadar Hills district map.
Contention that implies hill areas belong to either Kuki or Naga and Meitei cannot have a say in the hilly areas of the State is not at all acceptable, MESIA said in a statement.
If the initiative is for the administrative convenience, then the entire Langol range, Nongmaiching Hills range and the other periphery Meitei Uyok hills range which is located just about four to five kilometres from Kangla, which are located within the proposed map of Sadar Hills district, should be included in their respective nearest district Headquarters, the statement said.
It added that the State Government should have a courage to consider the points and work out a road map accordingly which otherwise would lead to a new spell of ethnic tension between the Meiteis and Kukis.