Eight bodies of CCpur finally laid to rest, after 632 days
Source: The Sangai Express
CCpur, May 24 2017:
The eight tribal
youths who were killed in the
protest against the three Bills
passed by the State Assembly
on August 31, 2015, have been
laid to rest today at the 'Tribal
Martyrs' Memorial Park' sited
adjacent to the scenic Khuga
Dam, moments after a massive
funeral service in their honour
was held at the heart of Lamka
town.
At least four Cabinet Ministers,
including Th Biswajit,
V Hangkhanlian, L Dikho,
Nemcha Kipgen; Chief Secretary
Nabakishore and other
officials attended the funeral
service held in honour of the
tribal martyrs at Lamka public
ground and paid floral tributes
to them.
The eight remaining bodies
of the 'martyrs' were
moved out for the first time
in 632 days from the district
hospital mortuary in eight
trucks around 9.30 am.
Students
on a human chain
greeted them through to the
ground where a huge gathering
from all walks of life
awaited to pay their final tributes.
JAC AATB chief convenor
H Mangchinkhup,
Works Minister Th Biswajit
and tribe leaders who had
been with the JAC all through
the 632 days movement and
student leaders from Mizoram
addressed the funeral service
that was marked with exhibition
of traditional gun salute,
presentation by choir groups
and recitation of messages
from leaders across the country
that sympathised with the
tribal people's cause and their
movement.
Mangchinkhup in his
speech recalled how the
movement against the 'antitribal'
Bills had united the
tribals in one voice for the
first time but in the same
breath noted the gradual division
within the people by the
words and deeds of others.
As the State Government is
well versed with these weak
points it continues to create
enmity and animosity among
the different tribal communities
at will through its policy
of divide and rule till today,
he said.
"The burial of the mortal
remains of our Tribal martyrs
does not mean the end of our
political demand and aspiration.
Rather, this is the extent
of what the State Government
can do; the next step rest in
the hands of the Union Government.
Now, we are about
to accomplish our short term
goal, and have left the mission
of achieving our long
term goal with the tribal armed
groups.
The achievement of our aspiration and political desire now depends
on how unified and united we are � the tribal armed groups, the
elected representatives of the tribals and the tribal public,' asserted
the chief convenor
He added, 'for 632 days, we have been mostly driven by
our emotions and sometimes by irrational thinking; the time
has come for the tribal people to move ahead based on logical
and rational thinking rooted in reality.'
The man who steered the movement for over 600 days also
made a significant remark and declared that he honestly believe
that had the various tribe-based organisations and the general
public chosen to stand by the JAC for another 5/6 more
months with the same zeal and commitment they had about a
year ago, the demands highlighted in the JAC's charter of
demands would have been achieved.
However it is not too late.
"As we are about to enter a new
phase of the movement, we need to relook our approach and
make necessary course corrections.
The more important question
now is, are we ready for it," he said.
Th Biswajit in his address emphasised on the need for
peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for one another.
He
said that it is the belief of the BJP led Government not to pit
the divergent communities in the State against one another and
take advantages at the cost of another.
The Minister personally donated Rs 50,000 for the development
of the 'Tribal Martyrs Memorial Park at Mata, Lamka.'
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Jual Oram also sent a
condolence message to the JAC AATB as it prepared to bade
farewell to the 'martyrs' and pleaded them to continually
support the struggle to protect tribal rights and land, over
which the deceased youths have lost their lives.
'It is my wish and prayer that all communities in Manipur
find an amicable solution to their political problems at the
earliest without infringement of tribal rights,' said the message.
ZORO GHQs also condoled the 'martyrs' as their last
rites were performed today.
Mizo Students Union (MSU)
GHQs and Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) GHQs deputed a representative
each to attend today's funeral and they too addressed
the public.
Following the funeral service, the motorcade carrying the
mortal remains of the 'martyrs' moved to the burial site at
around 4.30 pm where all eight of them were laid side-by-side
and buried in one grave in the presence of a huge crowd of
mourners.
Comment
