ATSUM, TKLI see red over 'foreigner' remark ; Withdraw statement, tribal students demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2015 : The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Imphal (TKLI) have demanded the Meetei Youth Front, South East Asia (MYF SEA) and International Meetei Forum (IMF) to withdraw their irresponsible statement, which charged ATSUM of championing the causes of 'foreigners' .

In separate statements, ATSUM and TKLI said that the statements of MYFSEA and IMF�which accused ATSUM of raising demands in the interest of a single community and seeking for protection of foreigners�have deeply hurt the sentiments of the tribal community.

ATSUM in a statement issued by its president Muan Tombing demanded the two organisations to tender apology to the tribal populace for hurting their sentiments.

ATSUM as a watch dog and sentinel of tribals in Manipur is for peaceful coexistence of all communities through mutual understanding on the table.

However, the indifferent attitude of the SPF Government has compelled the organisation to launch more intense and sporadic agitation in a sustained manner.

"The issue of foreigners as branded on some tribal communities is a sensitive issue that may trigger chaos and unwanted social unrest in Manipur," ATSUM said.

To this end, the MYF should clarify who are the foreigners in the hills, it said.

"The indigenous hill people of the State are now being dominated by foreigners who pose themselves as the peoples of the State as reported in a local English daily by the MYF-SEA is something that cannot be ignored because there are no foreigners in the ancestral domains of the tribal," ATSUM said.

As per the office memorandum, Imphal, June 15, 2013, the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records had been directed by the State Government to complete transfer of all available land records of Churachandpur district, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Saikul and Saitu to their respective DC and ADC within June 30, 2013, it said.

In continuation of this order, the State Government had been requested to transfer all available land records of Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Senapati during the course of the series of talks, the last being held on October 22, 2014, it added.

Despite the shared history down the years, tribal people in Manipur have not been able to work out a cohesive mechanism to propel them to a better and brighter world.

This is a task before the tribal/indigenous people living in Manipur, said the student body and added that ATSUM is committed for a better and brighter future for all.

TKLI, in a statement issued by its general secretary, Ninglum KS said that the counter �blockade jointly imposed by Meetei Youth Front South East Asia & International Meetei Forum from June 23 midnight against the indefinite economic blockade of ATSUM is highly despicable.

The hostile act of MYFSEA & IMF at Pallel area and Imphal-Jiri road, vandalising goods laden vehicles, pulling down goods and passing abusive remarks against the tribal passengers were a direct insult to the tribal community.

The demands of the ATSUM are all legitimate and justified, it said while adding that it will extend unstinted support to the ongoing agitation of ATSUM until and unless its legitimate demands are desirably achieved.

Comment