FOCS gives 'reasons' for conflict
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 08 2023:
The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) has claimed that the underlying causes which ignited the series of violence in Manipur were the opposition by a section of people including militants to the survey of protected and reserved forest areas and poppy plantations other than the High Court judgment which directs the Manipur Government to send the recommendations for enlisting Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of the Constitution.
Addressing the media at Ningthem Pukhri Mapal today, FOCS president Th Manihar alleged that the unrest seen in Manipur was a consequence of a pre-plan strategy of people with vested interest.
Continuing that cadres of an outfit which signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government can be targeted by the security forces if they move out of their camp with weapons, FOCS claimed that some UG cadres violated the ground rules of SoO by taking part in mob violence using sophisticated weapons.
Th Manihar also urged the people of different communities to make their stand clear on deporting the foreign Nationals from Manipur at the earliest.
Thanking all the people who lend a helping hand to occupants of the relief camps, Th Manihar appealed to one and all to carry out more relief works.
Asserting that FOCS has not taken any decision to negotiate for the conflict which has rendered many people homeless, Th Manihar said that the Federation will give consent on negotiation if the Government agrees to carry out a Census either with 1951 or 1961 as base years to deport the foreigners to their native countries.
Saying that carrying out a Census operation is indispensable to save the Meeteis, Th Manihar appealed to the State Government to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur at the earliest.