JAC-PLAL opposes native status to Nepalis
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 23 2016:
Opposing the demand of the Nepali people to the State Government to 'grant them native resident status', the Joint Action Committee for Protecting Liangmai Ancestral Land (JAC-PLAL) has urged the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the tribal affairs portfolio, not to pay any heed to the demand.
In a lengthy memorandum submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister, the Liangmai JAC justified its stand pertaining to the Nepali issue by highlighting certain background.
"The Nepalese might have come to Manipur sometime in the first decade of the last century but they came to the soil of Manipur as soldiers, cooks, milkmen, traders and agriculturists" it pointed out in its memorandum.
According to JAC-PLAL, the then political agent in Manipur, Maj HD Maxwell had verbally ordered Nepalese to move towards Kanglatongbi, Kangpokpi, Irang Part I & II to rear cows and buffaloes on February 17, 1915 .
Another permission was also given to 42 Gorkha families at Matakong on August 23, 1957.The above two permissions speak of their (Nepalese) non-resident status, the Liangmai JAC confirmed.
It said, "The Nepalese on the verbal permission of the then political agent came and occupied Liangmai territory in 1915 without the consent of the original settlers and land owners.
Even as they had come and occupied the land, the Nepalese agreed to pay annual tributes to the native land owners.
Since then they had been paying the tributes to the land owners till today (Copies of the tribute receipts enclosed as Annexure 1).Besides this, occasional agreement had been drawn between the Liangmai native villages and tenant (Nepalese) to the effect that the tenants would abide by the customary and traditional practices of the Naga villages.
(Copies of agreements enclosed as annexure 2)" .
According to JAC-PLAL, there is no Khasland in Liangmai territory.
In this regard, the Liangmai JAC recalled a landmark ruling of the Guwahati High Court in Imphal permanent bench between the North East Council, Shillong, the State of Manipur and the Deputy Commisoner, Ukhrul versus the Hundung Victims of Development Project, in which the verdict was passed in favour of the petitioners whose land had been acquired by the North Eastern Council through the Government of Manipur.
The verdict is reproduced here below for necessary information� We are here concerned with Hill Areas of Ukhrul that there's no Government Khasland in Hill areas of Ukhrul�.." .
JAC-PLAL said that every village in Liangmai area is well defined as a unit with clear demarcation of boundaries between the villages.
While such was the clear position, the then authority had pushed the migrant Nepalese "to our country and had caused the present crisis.
"The then political agent of Manipur, C Gimson, ICS in his note to foreigners vide copy of Memo No.4770/MS dated 15/8/1943 had written an inspection note of Irang part I & II to the effect that no boundary fixation was required in the area.
To substantiate the statement, an improvised copy of the said memo is enclosed herewith for necessary information as annexure 3," it pointed out while adding, "Again another political agent in Manipur, GA Stewart, ICS had issued an order on the 2nd July 1938 to the effect that no grazer should move from one village to another without an expressed order from the political agent in Manipur.
Improvised copy enclosed as annexure 4 .
"In the light of the above stated facts and points, it is crystal clear that the Nepalese are not native residents of the State and the land they occupy was given for their temporary stay under certain agreements and conditions.
It is unthinkable to grant them native resident status when the indigenous people of the State are crying for protection of indigenous rights," the Liangmai JAC added.
"It is therefore, requested to look into the matter judiciously and take necessary action not to grant native resident status to Nepalese (Gorkhas)," the JAC-PLAL urged the Deputy Chief Minister.
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