Integrity Protection Day observance held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 27 2013 :
In comme-moration of the day when the words 'without territorial limits' was deleted from the cease fire agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on July 27, 2001, the Integrity Protection Day was observed today at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound under the aegis of ACOAM-Lup Kangleipak.
The three words were deleted from the cease fire after a strong and sustained mass movement in which 18 people lost their lives in police firing.
The commemorative function was opened by observing two minutes' silence in me-mory of the 18 martyrs.
The function was graced by ACOAM-Lup president Kshetrimayum Somorendro, ACOAM-Lup advisor H Kulla, former MACS project director Dr Khomdon Lisam, Editors' Forum Manipur pre-sident P Ibochouba and Kanglamei president Y Lei-rikleima as presidium members.
Ksh Somorendro said that both the Government of India and NSCN-IM still pose threats to the territorial integrity of Manipur even after 18 people have laid down their lives for the sake of Mani-pur's territorial integrity.
|
The Government has been deliberately refusing to recognise Irom Sharmila's 12 year old campaign against the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Saying that the Government never acts in conformity to the collective wish and aspirations of the mass, Somo- rendro highlighted the importance of unity among the people.
P Ibochouba said that the 18 people would not have lost their lives had the Government of India not committed the blunder of inserting the words 'without territorial limits' in the cease fire agreement it signed with NSCN-IM.
It was a tragic act committed by the then BJP led Government and it is condemned even today.
Dr Khomdon Lisam said that people need to first identify the core issues of Mani- pur and work collectively on it.
He lamented that people do not have the will to boycott Ministers, MLAs, Assam Rifles and Army in spite of rampant human rights violation and negligence of people's primary concerns.
"It is our bounden duty to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur but what is crucial is integrity among the people living within the territory of Manipur", H Kulla asserted.
If there is no integrity among the people, there is no point to protect territorial boundaries.
Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibi Manipur president Memchoubi stated that safeguarding territorial integrity of Manipur is the foremost responsibility of both the hill people and plain people of Manipur.
UCM president Y Nabachandra, IPSA advisor Ibotombi Khuman and other leaders of civil society organisations too spoke at the function.