Body for Solidarity & Unity of NE floated
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 15 2012: Acting on the recommendations adopted during the public hearing held on November 17 last, the Organisation for Solidarity and Unity of North East India (OSUNE-INDIA) has been formally launched today.

A general body meeting of OSUNE-INDIA was held at Manipur Press Club here today with ex-Minister Minthing in the chair.

The meeting unanimously re-affirmed and decided to implement the recommendations adopted during the public hearing held on November 17 last and also appointed its office bearers.

Among the elected office bearers, Dr L Khomdon is the President; Th Manihar and Rose Mangshi are General Secretaries and Ch Wangambi and M Naokhomba as Vice Presidents.

Addressing media persons, Dr L Khomdon explained that OSUNE-INDIA has been formed with the main objective of creating a forum to facilitate dialogue and discussion for ensuring communal harmony, social integration and for bringing solidarity and unity among all the ethnic groups in the State and also to initiate policy and legal advocacy campaigns in collaboration with the stakeholders for possible amendment of Indian Constitution.

"Today we are sitting on top of a ticking time bomb.

The Nagas are demanding Nagalim or Greater Nagaland or Alternative Arrangement while the Kukis demanding a separate Kuki State.

This disunity and mutual mistrust is the result of the Government of India's policy of divide and rule propagated through the Indian Constitution.

We need to relook at the impact and the implication of the Indian Constitution", he added.

He further exclaimed that "We have to realize that Manipuris means Nagas, Meiteis, Kukis, Meitei Pangals.

We have to live peacefully in harmony and respect each other to bring peace, prosperity and development in the State and at the same time we have to rectify the Constitutional defects which prevent us from being united" .

The public hearing also recommended a number of action points which include declaration of the whole state of Manipur as a hill state; non appliance of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution to the State of Manipur; all the ethnic groups in the state should be brought under a uniform Land Law; inclusion of Meetei Mayek script in the currency and coins, Meetei of Manipur should be put in the ST category and creation of a separate Manipur regiment under Indian Army.

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