ATCFM, others urge Governor to reject Bills
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2015 : A consul-tative meeting of several organisations held today at Tribal Research Institute, Chingmeirong under the aegis of the All Tribal Chiefs Forum Manipur (ATCFM) has resol-ved to urge the President, the Prime Minister and the Gover-nor of Manipur to reject the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31 .

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, ATCFM advisor Tongmang Haokip asserted that the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amend- ment) Bill, 2015 infringe upon land and interest of hill people.

The Bills were passed without consulting the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) in contravention of Article 371C of the Constitution.

Public leaders at the consultative meet

As all the three Bills were passed after violating the Assembly's Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Busi- ness, the meeting resolved to oppose the Bills, Tongmang said.

The meeting further resolved to submit a memoran- dum to the President, the Prime Minister and the Governor to reject the three Bills.

The meeting endorsed the decisions adopted by the JAC Churachandpur in connection with the death of eight people in the course of mass protest movement in Churachandpur.

To urge all the 20 MLAs elected from hill districts to resign from their respective seats for not raising any objection when the three Bills were passed and thus betraying hill people was the fourth resolution of the meeting.

The meeting further decided to carry on democratic and peaceful modes of agitation until the people's de- mands are fulfilled.

Meanwhile, Tribal apex bodies of the State � Hmar Inpui (HI), Kuki Inpi, Mani-pur (KIM), United Naga Council (UNC) and Zomi Council (ZC), outrightly rejecting the three Bills and proceedings of the Manipur Legislative Assembly of Aug 31.They have resolved today to 'firmly uphold the unity process of the Manipur tribals and agreed to fight together for securing a common political future causes and issues with full conviction' .

A joint sitting of the tribal apex bodies held today in Imphal seriously viewed the situation which unfolded recently at Churachandpur, according to a joint declaration signed by the leaders of the apex tribal bodies.

The meeting condemned in the strongest term the brutal action of Manipur State security forces who killed 8 per- sons including a minor boy and infflicted injuries to hundreds of people at Chura- chandpur while conveying condolence to the victims.

The meeting also endorsed and appreciated the decision of the Joint Action Committee, Churachandpur for with- drawing its earlier decision of demanding ex-gratia and Govt jobs to the next of kins of the "tribal martyrs" from the "communal Government of Manipur" .

The meeting decided to firmly uphold the unity process of the Manipur tribals and agreed to fight together for securing a common political future causes and issues with full conviction.

The meeting resolved to have another joint meeting at the earliest.

The declaration was signed by Dr John H Pulamte, president HI, Thangkhosei Haokip, president, KIM, Gaidon Kamei, president UNC and L B Sona, chairman, Zomi Council.