Churachandpur, August 02 2010: The Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas Manipur (COPTAM) has announced a series of agitations to put pressure on the state government in connection with their eight point charter of demands, and decided to hold a mass protest rally on August 10 instead of August 3 .

As the first step of its agitation, functioning in all government institutions in the hill district has been restricted, according to sources.

The COPTAM proposed agitations include withholding the General Census 2011 operation in the hills and block the movement of Census Officials from the valley districts to the hills.

A mass protest rally would be held on August 10 in all hill districts simultaneously which will be followed by protest rally in New Delhi.

Extensive poster campaign and sit-in-protests would also be held, and hunger strike will be organised if the demands are not met, according to a press release issued by Thangkam Lupheng, Secretary, COPTAM.

The COPTAM list of demands include maintenance of original hill district boundary on the basis of village boundaries that fall within the jurisdiction of the hill district.

Conduct of the General Census Operation, 2011 by the respective hill districts' DCs on the basis of the payment of Hill House Tax would be hindered.

The issue of unwarranted revenue collection by the valley district should be delinked from the present census operations.

Since the attack on the CDSU leadership at Phougakchao Lamkhai on July 29 by Imphal bound bus conductors/drivers and public being highly deplorable and deserving serious condemnation, the District Administration must continue to place Section 144 Cr PC so as to prevent communal conflict.

Further, no individual or Department should attempt to re-instate the signboard "Welcome to Bishnupur District" at Kangvai.

The PWD should explain on what ground and under what circumstance it erected the signboard, and whether the PWD has the authority to erect signboard and alter district boundaries? .

As regards maintenance of Land Records by the respective hill districts, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) should take up the matter before August 10, failing which shall be viewed seriously, the press release stated.

It requested the newly elected MDCs from the hill areas to take up the matter in accordance with their empowerment by the Third ADC (Amendment Act, 2008) for safeguarding the tribal lands and its records.

The COPTAM appealed to all concerned not to take the matter in the line of communal feeling but instead extend unreserved support and co-operation in the struggle in the interest of the State.

It may be mentioned here that the COPTAM had called 12-hour hill areas bandh on July 29 during which some incidents had occurred which led to further demands in this regard.

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