TSA pledges support
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2016 : Thadou Students' Association � General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) has reasserted its stance on the three Bills and said it, along with Thadou Inpi, Thadou Youth Association and Thadou Women's Association will support the ongoing tribal movement spearheaded by JAC against 'anti-tribal Bills and will continue to do so unwaveringly until the bills are withdrawn or unless the clauses that are against tribal interest are removed.

In a statement, the student body said, while TSA shares the concern of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) supporters regarding the alarmingly fast growing State's demographic imbalance which indeed presents a grim situation and threatens the interests of the indigenous people of the state both in the valley and in the hills, it also has serious concerns regarding some of the clauses contained in the 3 Bills that will potentially impinge upon tribal rights over their identity and land and their interests severely undermined once the bills are enacted to become law and implemented.

The passing of the Bills without duly consulting the tribals have cost 9 precious tribal lives (the tribal martyrs whose dead bodies are yet to be buried) who were killed while protesting against the Bills and since then the protest movements for and against the Bills spearheaded by the JCILPS and JAC Against Anti-Tribal Bills respectively have intensified on both sides, plunging the State into chaos and anarchy-like situation.

The State Government and supporters of the Bills have repeatedly tried to dispel the apprehensions held by the tribals over certain clauses by saying that the bills will not in any way affect the hill or tribal area.

However, this explanation has failed to convince the tribals because of certain reasons, such as clause 1(2) of the introduction to the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 which states "It shall extend to the whole of the State of Manipur".

Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill defines Manipur (State of Manipur) as covering both the hill and valley of the State.

As the bill itself clearly states, clearly the bill covers the whole of the State of Manipur.

It also appealed to the State Manipur and the JCILPS to either withdraw the 'anti-tribal Bills' or review and amend them in such that they suit not only the interests of a particular community but of all indigenous communities of Manipur.

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