Need to "reconsider" Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949: MIYC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 03 2023: Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has stated that if Manipur's integrity is facing any threat after merging with India on October 15, 1949, the people of Manipur need to "reconsider" the Manipur Merger-Agreement, 1949 .

In a statement, MIYC co-ordinator T Parijat Singh observed that it is becoming increasing clear that the 'Rule of Law' is Manipur is communal based, as the laws enforced in the valley is vastly different from the ones enforced in the hills.

The Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949 was signed with the promise that India would protect the territorial boundary of Manipur, spanning around 46,620sq km and that Manipuris would be given equal democratic rights.

However, there are signs of a well-planned conspiracy with separatist groups to disintegrate Manipur, like how the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019 .

There are also signs of support to the move of Kuki Chin-Mizo insurgents including those from Myanmar to wipe out the Meitei community to form their dream independent country, "Zalen'gam" .

The release continued after Manipur's merger with India, the state has faced an influx of illegal migrants/immigrants, threatening the very existence of the indigenous communities.

As part of the objective of forming "Zalen'gam", which requires money, the hill areas were cleared out for poppy cultivation, causing massive changes to the climate and the environment.

As such, 10;457 forest fires were recorded in 2020-21.The poppy plantations produced a total of 60,000 ton of opium per year and the drugs made from the same have resulted in around 35 per cent of the youth becoming drug addicts.

The money earned from poppy cultivation is now funding narco-terrorism and further being used to ensure the state's disintegration.

The Kukis, in their obsession to form "Zalen'gam", are continuing their ethnic cleansing of Meitei to the point of complete annihilation of many Meitei villages.

While around 19 Meitei villages in Churachandpur were razed to the ground using JCBs, around 99 per cent of Meitei villages in Moreh have been destroyed, On top of this, attempts are being made to convert the land in Torbung, which have been inhabited by the Meitei since time immemorial into a burial site for dead Kuki-Chin-Mizo insurgents.

The attempt to convert Torbung into a burial site after carrying out an empty coffin rally on June 24 in order to gain the sympathy of the central government needs to be pondered upon, it remarked, "The attempts to gain sympathy from the central government by politicising the dead bodies of the deceased are not only deplorable but highly disrespectful to the dead.

The Kuki community should learn to respect their dead," it contended.

The release continued that around 5,000 loufam/lou pari (5,000 ha approximately) have been taken over by Kukis as part of their area domination plan.

In addition, the partiality in the laws cannot be ignored, considering 17,339 people from the valley were arrested in connection with the conflict compared to the 15 people in the hills.

Furthermore, while MR personnel are suspended for not protecting the quarters of a Kuki MLA/minister, no action has been taken up against the 10 Kuki MLAs who have violated the Constitution.

The OC of Nongpok Sekmap PS was suspended with regard to the May 4 incident but no action was taken up with regard to the attacks carried out in the peripheral areas.

MIYC then said that after Manipur's Kabaw Valley was given away to Burma (Myanmar) soon after the merger in 1949, the latest attempt seems to be to break apart Manipur, which now only has an area of 22,327 sq km.

Thus, taking this into consideration, there is a need to revisit how Manipur was merged to India, the aftermath of this merger and the best decision to be taken up at this juncture.

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