Joint meeting on Sadar Hills blockade fails to break status quo
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 17 2011:
A joint consultative meeting of civil society organisations was hosted by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) today at Kangpokpi on the raging issue of Sadar Hills district.
Talking to media persons after the meeting which went on till late evening, SHDDC president Ngamkhohao Haokip said that all the civil society organisations which took part in today's meeting expressed their support to the movement for Sadar Hills district.
Though the meeting could not adopt any definite resolution, the civil society organisations agreed on doing whatever is possible to achieve the demand for a full fledged Sadar Hills district before the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections, Ngamkhohao said.
According to what transpired during the meeting, the strength of civil society organisations and their power to influence the Government was understandable.
In another word, it was a green signal from the civil society organisations to go ahead with the ongoing movement for Sadar Hills district, Ngamkhohao stated.
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The meeting deliberated at length on setting a definite deadline for the Government to announce the creation of Sadar Hills district before the forthcoming elections.
If district status is granted to Sadar Hills before elections, the blockade would go away by itself, Ngamkhohao said.
The consultative meeting was participated by AMESCO, United NGO's Mission Manipur, Senior Citizens Manipur, HERICOUN, AMUCO, ICHAM, FREINDS, NIPCO, AMKIL, IPSA, UPF, All Manipur Tammi-Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup, MAPI Council, UMO, DESAM, KSA and MSF.
From their side, Senior Citizens Manipur maintained that district status is something which cannot be denied to Sadar Hills.
They also appealed to lift the blockade in the interest of the suffering mass.
AMUCO too proposed to lift the blockade as it has resulted in untold misery to all sections of the population.
However, FREINDS expressed their opinion in favour of carrying on the economic blockade.
NIPCO highlighted the need for re-adjustment of Sadar Hills area so as to ensure peaceful coexistence of all communities.
Regarding the question of whether the blockade should be lifted or not, NIPCO left it to the wisdom of SHDDC.
They also underscored the need for collective responsibility in demanding a district or imposing economic blockade.
UPF observed that the Government is too strong-headed.
They proposed to carry on the movement further until the demand is achieved under an understanding with the Government.
Maintaining that the Government's mentality does not deserve any faith, MAPI Council said that neither the blockade nor other forms of agitation should be suspended.
But HERICOUN was in favour of the lifting the economic blockade.