Student bodies give call to hoist black flag
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 24 2024:
While appealing to the student community and the public to boycott the Republic Day celebration in the state, six student bodies have urged the people to put up black flags at every household and observe mourning on the day.
On behalf of presidents of the student bodies, MSF president Hijam Roshan informed in a joint statement that the indigenous people should remain alert as there is serious threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
Pointing out that the idea of separate homeland for a particular community remains elusive across the world, it stated that the attempt to create homeland of the Kukis by balkanising Manipur through use of money power has led to differences among various communities settling in the state.
Accusing people belonging to the Kuki community of accumulating huge wealth by indulging in drug business, poppy plantation, and deforestation apart from orchestrating destruction of holy places of other communities to trigger communal violence in the state, Hijam Roshan said that the Kuki-Zo community has been drawing funds from international community and organisations under the garb of minority and win over support of external elements.
Moreover, they (Kuki-Zo) are aiding in influx of thousands of illegal immigrants from across the border and facilitating them possess fake documents.
Claiming that conflicts ensue wherever Kukis settle, the joint statement cited crisis in Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and the Chittagong Hill tracts in Bangladeshi.
Since expansion of their land and usurping natural resources preserved by the indigenes had been their dominant characteristics, Kukis have been at loggerheads with other communities.
Despite the sharp increase in the number of Kuki villages in the state and extensive plantation of poppy in Kuki-dominated areas, in addition to indulging in drug business and deforestation activities by the Kukis, it is very unfortunate that Kuki CSOs, intellectuals and church leaders are sitting over the matter.
As such all other communities settling in the state need to discuss and enquire into the matter, Roshan stressed.
The press communique also maintained that the humanitarian crisis in Manipur is not a communal conflict but part of the agenda to destroy the integrity of Manipur and create divisions among the indigenes by the Kukis.
If this attempt to destroy Manipur is not intervened in time, the fate of all other indigenous communities in Manipur will be at stake.
It also appealed to the old Kukis settling in Manipur to be vocal and stand up against the activities of the illegal Kuki-Zo migrants from Myanmar.
The student bodies also censured alleged indifferent attitude of the central government despite Kuki militants openly attacking civilians and state forces.
Crime against humanity, genocide, ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Kuki militants should be effectively contained by the government authorities failing which the public will be compelled to launch intense agitations, they cautioned.
In view of atrocities committed against the civilians, indifferent attitude of the central government towards the Meetei community and hardships being faced by the people including students, it would be meaningless to celebrate the Republic Day in Manipur.
Therefore, on the occasion of Republic Day, every household in Manipur should hoist black flags as a mark of respect to those who have lost their lives in the present crisis, the student bodies stressed.