JAC to consult others before responding to talk invite; slams divisive propaganda
Issue has received National, Intl response : JAC
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, September 24 2015: The JAC Churachandpur has today said it will first consult all the tribal apex bodies before responding to any invitation for talks that has been extended to them by the Government as the present crisis involves all the hill tribes of Manipur.

They also condemned the repeated attempts by certain sections of the people to divert the issue at hand by isolating a particular tribe through the media houses.

"While appreciating your invitation (for discussion) a joint consultative meeting convened by the JAC has resolved that as the present crisis pertain to the hill tribals of Manipur, all tribal apex bodies including ATSUM, Hmar Inpui, Kuki Inpi Manipur, United Naga Council, Zomi Council, JACs of different districts of the State, and other tribal bodies within and outside Manipur would be consulted first, and a reply will be given to the State Government on the collective decision at the earliest," said the JAC today.

The Chief Minister's office reportedly sent the invitation to the JAC late yesterday.

A mass rally staged at CCpur on September 23

The JAC has also issued a separate statement to assert that it is a non-communal committee jointly set-up and endorsed by all the tribal apex bodies, philanthropic and student organisations to spearhead all issues at the aftermath of the violent reaction witnessed after the State Assembly passed three "anti-tribal Bills" .

It said the JAC is compelled to clarify the many concocted allegations levelled against it and the various false propaganda spread by certain sections of the people in the State, particularly from the valley district but nevertheless maintained that such cheap propaganda will not subdue the tribal unity.

'Churachandpur district may be the epicentre of the protest movement, however, the issue as well as the movement is no longer confined to the State let alone Churachandpur district, but has received National and international response,' said the JAC that claims the full backing of Hmar Inpui GHQ, Zomi Council GHQ, and Kuki Inpi Churachandpur besides the endorsement of United Naga Council, Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur and Hmar Inpui.

To substantiate their claims the JAC attached a joint declaration made by the three apex bodies on September 2, 2015 and another declaration of the four apex tribal bodies made on September 5, 2015 .

'The repeated attempts to divert the issue at hand by isolating a particular community/tribe through print and electronic media, (one Imphal based local TV channel), is strongly condemned.

The tribal unity through the supreme sacrifices made by nine tribal martyrs will never be let down by such cheap propaganda,' it added.

They also contended that any sensible person must understand the fact that the root cause of the present conundrum between the tribals and the Manipur Government is due to the passage of the three Bills which are unconstitutional and also anti-tribal.

Reaffirming their commitment to continue their democratic struggle until the collective desire of the tribal people is achieved, the JAC has as well made a public appeal to all the tribals requesting them to uphold in their prayers the President of India so that he will have the strength and wisdom to not give his assent to the three unconstitutional and anti-tribal Bills.

Meanwhile a nine member team of Zo Reunification Organisation (ZoRO) from Mizoram has today paid their respect to the nine martyrs and extended monetary assistance to the JAC.

They hailed the unmatched unity witnessed amongst the Zo-descendants in Manipur after the Manipur Government passed three anti-tribal Bills on August 31 .

They also claimed that ZoRO was asked by the United Nations to submit a map of the land that originally belongs to the Zo people and are optimistic about a declaration from the world body to restore the long desire self-rule of the Zo-descendants.