Thanlon meet endorses JAC's anti-Bills stand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 04 2016 : A public awareness campaign was held on June 3, 2016 at Thanlon by the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC) which was attended by people coming from about 35 villages located within Thanlon Sub-Division.

According to a statement issued by the JAC, the programme was hosted by Thanlon Village Authority.

The JAC members as well as leaders from various tribe councils including Thangza-mang, Rev Dr Lalkhawlien Pulamte, James YT Thadou, KG Tungnung, Thangzamuan Tombing and H Mangchin-khup, chief convener � JAC spoke at length about the 'anti-tribal' nature of the three Bills, viz the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015; and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015, and the need for unity among the tribal people of Manipur in their collective fight against the 'communal' and 'anti-tribal' policies of the Manipur Government.

Thanlon meet endorses JAC's anti-Bills stand

The programme ended with the adoption of several declaration by the people of Thanlon subdivision for the protection and promotion of tribal land, rights and identity.

The meeting strongly condemned the three 'anti-tribal Bills' passed by the Manipur State Assembly on August 31, 2015 as well as those tribal representatives who were elected to serve and protect the tribal land and its people but have instead given their approval to pass the three anti-tribal bills by choosing to remain silent till today.

It also resolved that, these three 'anti-tribal' Bills should never be allowed, under any circumstances, to be implemented in the tribal territories/areas and demanded that the same be immediately scrapped by the Manipur State Assembly.

The people of Thanlon subdivision resolved to stand united to vehemently oppose these three 'anti-tribal' Bills, it said.

The tribal communities under Thanlon subdivision resolved to set-up a Joint Action Committee against the three 'anti-tribal' Bills, and that the various village chiefs/village authorities within the subdivision shall take up the responsibility of setting up the subdivision level committee.

They further resolved that Dongchinpau, chief of Thanlon be the convenor to set up the committee, along with seven other chiefs from the subdivision as co-convenors.

"Since the three 'anti-tribal' Bills are detrimental to the survival of the tribal people and their territories in Manipur, we reaffirm our commitment to our demand for a separate administration outside of the Manipur Government to protect tribal rights and identity under the Constitution of India; the Union Government shall be persuaded for the same," it added.

Meanwhile, on the same day, a meeting was held at the office of the Mizo People Convention at Hmuia Veng, Lamka which was attended by leaders of the JAC as well as Hmar Inpui, Mizo People Convention, United Naga Council and Zomi Council, along with leaders of various tribe councils under Zomi Council.

The meeting deliberated on the future course of action to be executed in the collective fight for tribal rights and identity with the intention of intensifying the Manipur tribal movement in the days to come, the statement added.

With the 'All Political Party' delegation having arrived in New Delhi to persuade the Union Government to give President's assent to the three 'anti-tribal' Bills, the JAC requests all tribal people of Manipur residing in and around New Delhi to be vigilant and be ever ready to respond to the calls made by the Manipur Tribals' Forum, Delhi (MTFD) as they ramp up their agitation and raise collective voices against the 'anti-tribal' Manipur Government.