JAC to fine tune demands, traffic movement relaxed
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, November 03 2015: The JAC has today during their joint meeting with several stake holders decided to temporarily suspend all dharnas and bandh on traffic movement from Wednesday but asserted that shops and Government offices shall remain closed daily from 2 pm onwards as a mark of respect to the 'tribal martyrs' .

The decision to relax traffic from tomorrow, including the proposed total bandh from midnight of November 3, as per the road-map outlined earlier was taken considering the execution of customary Hiamkhaam by the State Government yesterday, said the JAC.

It however cautioned that more intensive agitations will be launched if the talks that will be held with the Government fails at any stage.

A joint meeting convened today in the aftermath of the Government performing tribal customary Hiamkhaam wherein the JAC accepted the State Government's acknowledgement of guilt for the actions committed by the State security forces, discussed in detail the proposed charter of demands to be presented before the Government of Manipur.

Details of the discussion were not made public, but a statement issued by the JAC said the same will be discussed more in detail tomorrow with KIM, UNC and ATSUM.

It also appealed to the public to forward suggestions and inputs on the issue, apparently in an attempt to take on board the popular sentiments.

The JAC also thanked those who have contributed their ideas and suggestions towards framing the document so far.

Any individual or organisation willing to give their suggestions have been told to do so before the JAC by 10 am tomorrow (Wednesday) in writing or to mail them at [email protected].

Despite the partial relaxation announced by the JAC, it also announced that the total bandh called by the JAC Jiribam from midnight of November 3, and the 10-days economic blockade of UNC that began from midnight of November 2 have its moral backing.

It also endorsed the November 4 mass rally proposed by Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi (MTFD) at the National capital.

It may be mentioned here that normal life in Churachandpur has been affected for the past two months with a highly emotional public unrest grappling the first half of September while the people led a disturbed life thereafter until this day.

Schools and colleges that were re-opened after a month long closure have to wind-up before noon even today.

Traffic and any form of business cease after 2 pm as dharnas are held and bandhs are imposed at all tribal localities, and later on at identified dharna points.

Church bells have also stopped ringing to mourn the death of nine protestors including a minor and merriment and festivities are not made public.

Above all, the bodies of the nine 'tribal martyrs' are still preserved at the district hospital mortuary using native techniques of preservation and a blend of modern household gadgets due to the absence of a deep freezer.

To this day, womenfolk from various villages take turn to mourn them at the mortuary every day and this has been going on for the past two months while three youth have volunteered to do whatever it takes for the upkeep of the these bodies.

Photos and relics of the martyrs have occupied the minds of the public and have become part of their life with banners, posters and t-shirts in every nook and corner of the district.

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