Creation of tribal state demanded
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 24 2011: The Zomi Council(ZC) has demanded "creation of an Autonomous Tribal State or an Autonomous State within Manipur by extending the provision of Article 244A of the Indian Constitution" whereby there will be two Assembly-Hill Assembly and Valley Assembly- in the State.

Demanding this, Churachandpur based ZC's information and publicity department in an emailed press statement said that such political re- arrangement is bound to fasten the pace of progress for achieving equitable development, strengthen integrity of the State and ushered durable peace and security in this part of the country.

It said the much acclaimed re-instating of Autonomous District Council (ADC) in Manipur and its attempt to devolve maximum powers appear to be a failure even before it actually take off, because most of the ADCs are unable to function at their own area for obvious reasons.

"The fact that they continue to function from Imphal is a betrayal of effective local-self government in tribal areas of Manipur or a mockery of Indian democracy, rather than an achievement", the statement claimed.

What is essential today is immediate redressal of both development deficit and democratic-deficit condition in tribal areas.

The statement alleged that tribal grievance in Manipur which has recently led to the demand for "Alternative Political Arrangement", "Kuki State" or an "Autonomous State within Manipur" is not without any reason or justifications.Their grievances got compounded over the years and are pushed to a situation where they are left with no choice but to demand for justice, a dignified place in the sun of the great Indian nation,the statement added.

All the tribal communities in the State shared in common the sense of neglect, discrimination, indifferent attitude and the desperation for a separate political arrangement, although there may be difference of opinion over the model for a political solution and its approaches toward the goal, it said and added that the voices of dissent from the Hills call for immediate attention of the Government.

Yet, what we observe today as the possible response of the Government seemed to be symptomatic without attending its core issue.

The State had enough of bitter communal experiences in the past and taking our history back to a barbaric stage would be most unfortunate.

It was on this principle that the various tribal armed groups signed Suspension of Operation Agreement in 2005 with the Government, choosing democratic process to raise their grievances.

Stating that the time has come for every sensible citizen of the State to retrospect and learn lesson from past mistakes and begin to seriously engage in the process of peaceful solution to the tribal problems,the release further added that the genuine grievances of 90% area of the State can never be simply ignored if we dream of a shinning Manipur.

In order to achieve this collective objective, each men and women of the State should come out of our narrow or parochial mindset and start looking thing in its larger perspectives.

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