The Memory of June 18

Seram Neken *

12th - The Great June Uprising Observation at Kekrupat Martyrs' Memorial complex on June 18 2013 :: Deepak Oinam

To the political leaders of Manipur, working towards an amendment of Article 3 of Indian constitution will be the only real homage to the martyrs of June 18 incident.

Tomorrow is a historic day. On this day in 2001, people of Manipur came out whole-heartedly to oppose tendencies to disintegrate their age-old composite character. The legacy of divide-and-rule policy of the government of India was challenged like anything. For sure, June 18 episode is testimony to the fact that composite people of the land always love to live together in spite of the recurrent forces to dismantle the unity. The durable protection of Manipur integrity can be possible only with constitutional provisions. Hence, all solutions to the territorial entangle lie in the bold and sincere efforts of our political leaders.

Back to 2001

It was on 14th June 2001 that area coverage of the ceasefire agreement between Government of India and the NSCN (IM) was extended without territorial limit.

Next day (15th June) at 9 in the morning, an emergency meeting held at the office of IPSA resolved to launch a general strike to protest the extension. Another meeting held at 1.30 pm at the AMSU head office under the aegis of civil society organizations such as AMSU, Macha Leima, AMKIL, NIPCO and UPF also resolved to launch a 24 hour general strike beginning midnight of 17th June.

On the same day at 2 pm, another meeting participated by AMUCO, CLK, IPSA, ZUCAM and Zeliangrong Union Imphal decided to launch a 66 hour general strike from the midnight of 15th June to 6 pm of June 18. Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly in a meeting held at Library Hall of the State Assembly also voiced strong protest against bringing Manipur under the jurisdiction of the ceasefire.

On that historic day, the 18th June 2001, Great people’s Uprising against the ceasefire extension happened with the furious people setting on fire buildings including the Assembly Secretariat, CM Bungalow and offices of political parties. 13 protesters were shot dead during the agitation.

Next day, on 19th June a 39 year old woman Sorokhaibam Sobita injured in a firing incident and her right leg amputed. On 20th June, the dead bodies of 13 martyrs were cremated at Kekrupat. On 22nd June, one Thingom Biren Singh succumbed to bullet injury.

Civil bodies – AMSU, AMUCO, AMKIL, NIPCO, IPSA and UPF made People’s Declaration to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur on 26th June, 2001. On 2nd July the same year, six organizations mentioned above came together to form a Unified Command with three convenors namely Khomdram Ratan, Sapamcha Jadumani and Udoi Thongam. Thus born the apex body - United Committee Manipur (UCM) at 11 am on 3rd July 2001 at the residence of Sapamcha Jadumani at Pishumthong Oinam Leikai with the objective of safeguarding the territorial and emotional integrity of Manipur.

On July 03, two eminent personalities, Padmashree MK Binodini and Padmashree Ratan Thiyam decided to repudiate the prestigious Padmashree Awards conferred on them by July 8 if the Centre failed to take up necessary steps to check breaching of the State boundary.

On 5th July, a protest Meira rally was staged, in which a woman L. Tamphasana Devi succumbed to rubber bullet injury. Again on 20th July, one Laitonjam Rajkumar expired during a protest rally to surrender text books to the Governor of Manipur.

On July 7, the Manipur Olympics Association, MOA threatened to return all 112 medals and the Raja Bhalendra Singh trophy won by the sportspersons of the state during the 5th National Games, if the agreement did was not revoked.

On July 10, six young residents of Langmeidong namely Ch Bhugon, Y Friday Singh, Y Malemnganba, L Harichandra , S Bishorjit, and L Gandhi stepped forward in a suicide pact to immolate themselves on August 2 if the Central government does not withdraw the ceasefire extension decision by August 1.

On 21st July 2001, a high power delegation of UCM held talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi, where the latter assured the delegation to review the ceasefire agreement after consultation with all chief ministers of NE states. On 27th July, the Prime Minister held meeting with the NE CMs and announced the deletion of three words “Without Territorial Limits” from the text of the agreement.

Later on 30th July 2001, one protester Okram Ramananda Singh died during a mass protest rally in Kakching area. On 29th August, a state level leaders’ meet held at Indoor Stadium, Khuman Lampak Imphal resolved to strengthen the UCM as a body to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur. On 4th February 2001, dialogue with national leaders was held in New Delhi. Since then, a number of episodes of varied nature have tended to disrupt the unity and integrity of Manipur again and again.

Towards emotional & territorial integrity:

Emotional unity among Manipuris remains a far cry in the state, where people of various communities cannot reside together in all parts of the state due to haphazard land laws. Only when the Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act. is extended uniformly to all parts of Manipur, the residents will be able to mould emotional ties among them. It is impossible to maintain love and unity among people who are barred from residing together. The foremost task of our politicians is to bring in uniform land revenue act in the whole of Manipur.

Only the amendment of Article 3 of Indian Constitution will ensure protection of Manipur’s territorial integrity. The other commitments and assurances of the incumbent political powers would not bring stability in the minds of the scattered peoples of Manipur. Safeguarding the territorial boundary is the sole responsibility of the political parties and political leaders of Manipur. Concrete statutory safeguards are the need of the hour.

The real homage to the departed 18 martyrs of the June 18 incident will be the materialization of the constitutional amendment.