MTF likely to launch stir from June 9
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Senapati, June 06 2016:
Tribals in Manipur under the banner of Manipur Tribals' Forum (MTF) will begin agitation from the midnight of June 9 against the three "anti-tribal Bills" passed by the Manipur Assembly, according to sources.
In a serious deliberation today the tribal leaders have taken this decision.
However, the nature of agitation has not been disclosed.
The tribal leaders are likely to announce their line of action officially on June 7 .
Sources informed Newmai News Network this evening that the tribal leaders who participated in today's meeting resolved that "do-or-die" movement against the three Bills will be initiated.
"We will like to caution the NDA Government not to play vote bank politics," stated the sources.
They further said that today's meeting of the tribal leaders also decided to submit a "strongly worded" memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The decision of the Manipur Tribals' Forum came even as various modes of agitation initiated by organisations under the aegis of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) have been demanding the enactment of the three Bills�the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015�which were passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly last year.
Nine protesters lost their lives when security forces tried to control strong protests that erupted in Churachandpur following the passing of the three Bills last year.
The tribal people said the Bills impinge upon their rights and hence they should be withdrawn.
The agitation of the tribal people is based on the perception that these Bills are anti-tribal and violate the provision of Article 371C and the Manipur State Hill People Regulation, 1947.The State Government on the other hand claimed that the amendment does not infringe upon Article 371C of the Indian Constitution.
To the tribal people of Manipur, the three 'anti-tribal' Bills impinge on tribal identity, land rights and economy.
The JAC against the three Bills had earlier expressed that "having totally lost faith" in Manipur Government's commitment and ability to bring about any acceptable solution, and with the anticipation of many similar anti-tribal Bills from the State Government in future, "the growing sentiments among the tribal people now is that of mistrust and total disregard for the State Government which further nourishes the tribal aspiration for separation of tribal territories from the control of the ethnic Manipur Government, which is also increasingly seen as the only viable solution" .
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