Lups claim Meitei community targeted for clamp down on poppy cultivation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 18 2023: Singling out and targeting the Meitei community for the State Government's initiatives to clamp down on poppy cultivation and deforestation is unfortunate and uncalled for, said a joint statement issued by All Club Organisation Association & Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM-Lup), Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK), People's Action for National Democratic Movement (PANDM), Kanglamei, Kanglei Ima Lup (KIL) and Chanura Lamchinglel Kangleipak (CLK) .

Denouncing the eruption of violence originating from Churachandpur on May 3, the joint statement maintained that the resulting ethnic clash has resulted in a loss to all communities residing in the State and that it will accomplish nothing besides "eviscerating our society" .

The current unrest is due to the lack of forethought by leaders who organised the Tribal Solidarity March.

The controversy surrounding the ST demand raised by the Meitei community should have been dealt with in a Court of law instead of fostering unrest and letting things take a communal turn, it added.

"However, there is still time to make amends.

The organisers of the peace rally must come forward and openly take up measures to restore peaceful co-existence.

This would be the right and appropriate step", it asserted.

While the Kuki community might harbour some resentment against the State Government regarding various issues, it is unfair of them to turn against the Meiteis and this points at some hidden conspiracies in the background, the six organisations said.

Enumerating this point, it asserted that evidence of this can be found in the widespread cultivation of poppy in the hill areas and the opposition to the State Government's ban on poppy plantation, the 'War on Drugs' campaign and the movement to save forests.

As a retaliation against these moves, foreigners from beyond the border and those who back them have attempted to create fault lines among the communities, it claimed.

The statement issued by six organisations stressed that banning poppy cultivation and deforestation is not for the welfare of a single community but for the entire State.

However, targeting the Meitei community for this is unreasonable.

"Some leaders who are opposed to these moves of the State Government have poisoned the minds of the innocent civilians and made enemies out of them.

We must take caution against these disruptive forces and make efforts to keep communication lines open and restore peace", the joint statement strongly asserted.

Stating that Manipur belongs to both the hill and valley people, it further maintained that the violence brought on by 'foreigners' from beyond the borders has threatened the long-standing bond between the two community.

This would only result in large scale losses to both parties, it said.

The six bodies also maintained that the unrest and violence is also a result of the State Government's failure to control the situation at the right time.

The need of the hour is for the Government along with the CSOs and the public to collectively take up concrete actions to put an end to the civil unrest.

Separately, with the recent announcement of Class X and XII CBSE results, the six organisations have also urged the State Government to ensure that these students do not face any obstacles in pursuing further studies.

It may be noted that the joint statement was signed by Sanjit Soraisam, president, ACOAM-Lup; Ksh Somorendro, president, IPAK; Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, president, PANDM; Y Leirik Leima, president, Kanglamei; RK Sanahanbi, president, KIL and Ch Pakpi Chanu, president CLK.

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