Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24 2010:
A consultative meeting to deliberate on protecting the indigenous tribals' right was held yesterday under the aegis of COPTAM at Tuibuong with over twenty organisations including the apex tribal bodies from across four districts attending it, reports our CCpur correspondent.
The participants have unanimously agreed to back the firm stand adopted by COPTAM on overlapping census, distortion of district boundaries and maintenance of land records and extend their utmost co-operation in their struggle.
Besides, the meet denounced the move of the State Government to replace the existing village authority or chieftainship with an elected body; the plan to conduct hill land survey; the plan to create Jiribam district; institution of Moreh Municipality in a tribal area; institution of IRB training centre at Ngahmunphai and Khasia without bothering to pay compensation to the tribal land owners; and the repeated attempts to conduct Panchayat election in parts of the tribal areas.
The gathering that resolved to collectively strike for an honourable solution within the framework of the Constitution to resolve their countless issues also said the creation of new district par se is not objectionable but the attempt to amalgamate tribal areas shall be objected at any cost.