UCM bats for rights of minority communities
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 27 2022:
Large communities should never forcefully assimilate smaller and minority communities.
Minority communities' integrity and identity should be respected and they should be allowed to function independently, said Joychandra Konthoujam.
The president of United Committee Manipur (UCM) said this while attending a Christmas event at the Baptist Church of Ichum Keirap Kom in Kangpokpi district today.
Ichum Keirap village in Kangpokpi's Bungte Chiru sub-division is close to Leimaram, Bishnupur district and is inhabited by the Kom community.
Speaking at the event, Joychandra said before merging with India, Manipur was an independent State with its own king and a long history.
It is diverse and has many communities following different religions, distinct cultures and languages.
The United Committee Manipur supports the stand of the Kom Union Manipur that the Kom community will remain Kom.
Also, its efforts to preserve and promote the aged culture and tradition of Kom are laudable, Joychandra said.
No large communities should forcefully assimilate smaller and vulnerable minor communities.
The integrity and identity of the smaller and vulnerable communities should be respected and they should be allowed to remain and function independently, he said.
Joychandra said the United Committee Manipur (UCM) was formed to safeguard the State's integrity and its united structure.
It is a committee formed to face forces which threaten to disintegrate Manipur.
UCM is against the idea of two Governments within Manipur and it also stands against the idea of secession which would break the State.
UCM will not tolerate leaders who only act on their personal interests.
People should collectively face external forces which are poisoning the relationship between different communities in order to separate and break them apart, he added.
Joychandra further said, UCM will always stand for Kom and other smaller and vulnerable communities.
The Kom Union Manipur (KUM) has complained that the community is not getting proper access to Government schemes.
UCM takes this very seriously and the committee will provide all available assistance to the KUM in this regard, he said.
He also wished the people of the village on Christmas festivities and presented blankets to elders.
Speaking at the event, KUM president Arao Kom said the Kom community has been residing in Manipur since time immemorial.
Kom community has a population of about 25,000.However, the members of the community are spread far apart.
As such, the Koms are not able to elect their own representative in the Assembly till today, Arao Kom said.
"This is the first time the UCM and KUM are celebrating Christmas together.
This is historic," Arao said, expressing hope that the UCM would assist KUM in bringing the Kom community to the mainstream.
Arao also expressed hope that the KUM and UCM would play important roles in building a united Manipur.
UCM vice president YK Dhiren, general secretary Ng Deba, KUM secretary Akim, information secretary Angkup and treasurer K Roselyne Kom among others were present.
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