COPTAM calls bandh, ADCs vexed with poll
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, September 12 2012: While Committee for the Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has called a 12-hour bandh on September 13 in all the hill districts of Manipur against the Panchayat election in some "tribal areas", Autonomous District Councils have joined the tribal band- wagon.

The "core committee" of the Autnomous District Councils (ADCs) of Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati informed Newmai News Network that they seriously view the development while Committee for the Protection of Tribal areas, Manipur (COPTAM) and All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) have urged the people of these tribal villages to boycott the Panchayat election due tomorrow.

COPTAM general secretary Thangkam Lupheng who is currently camping in Delhi on tribal issues announced the decision to boycott the Panchayat election in the hills.

"The State Government's decision to introduce the Panchayati Raj in the hill districts is a mechanism to intrude into tribal land and administration," Thangkam Lupheng stated.

Echoing a similar view, AMTU general secretary Romeo Bungdon said, "We hereby urge the tribal villages which are illicitly included in the Panchayat election to abstain from polling and carry out the normal chores as usual as these villages are already included in the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)" .

To top this, RK Kaba who is the Core Committee convenor of Chandel ADC, Ukhrul ADC, Tamenglong ADC and Senapati ADC said, "Inclusion of 15 villages of tribal area in the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat constituencies in the coming election is a unilateral decision on the part of the State Government which is against the Constitution and anti-tribal policy" .

The Core Committee therefore requests the State Government to immediately revoke the orders in the interest of the tribal people.

"In view of the above decision and orders of the government of Manipur, we fully endorse the 24-hour bandh called by the Kuki Inpi, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), COPTAM, Saikul Area Naga People Organisation (SANPO) and Vaiphei Chiefs Association," said RK Kaba.

Striking a similar line, AMTU while giving their reasons for opposing the Panchayat election in "tribal areas", has said the participation of the tribal people in that election will amount to urbanisation of the villages which would mean the destruction of the hill village structure.

Meanwhile, according to COPTAM, even though the state cabinet had withdrawn Panchayati Raj administration in some parts of hill districts, the Panchayat system id still functioning in some areas.

Regarding its bandh, the COPTAM warns anyone for the violation of the agitation.

The bandh will begin from 5 am and ends at 5 pm.

These developments have come a day after certain groups had announced to call a 24-hour Sadar Hills bandh on Thursday, the day when the election to the Panchayat election will be held.

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