Environment Day :: RPF for ecological balance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 04 2012: Highlighting the importance of observing World Environment Day, the proscribed RPF has called upon one and all to preserve ecological balance.

The outfit, in a press statement issued by its publicity secretary T Leisemba, lamented that the natural environment of Manipur has degraded to disastrous stage since Manipur was 'forcibly merged' into the Indian Union.

While many Nations across the world have launched extensive movements to save environment, trees and plants are being exploited without leaving any chance of re-generation by the underprivileged people in search of their daily livelihood.

Many hillocks which once dotted the valley have also been cleared just like many wetlands have been filled up.

This has severely affected the ecological balance.

Unexpected flash floods which imperil the live of people every year is a testimony of the degenerating ecology.

All these are gifts of the alien rule, it alleged.

Pointing out that Manipur has been a theatre of armed conflict between revolutionaries and the Indian military for the last 60 years, the outfit asserted that the Additional Protocol of Geneva Convention 1949 which was subsequently modified in 1977 clearly laid down certain prohibitions on the methods and means of military confrontation so as to protect local environments.

Armed conflicts generally affect environment thereby causing negative impact on the people.

As such, there is a close inter-relationship between international humanitarian laws and environment.

Despite the proclamations of the United Nations to protest environment in all areas afflicted by armed conflicts, the Government of India has been wrecking havoc on the environment of Manipur with a sinister intention to destroy all future habitats of the land.

The Indian military has been acting agents of environmental destruction by occupying all major sacred sites, tourist spots, hill ranges and forest areas, it alleged.

Capitalising on the occasion of the World Environment Day, the RPF called upon all to take up effective measures for preserving ecological balance and environment not only for today but also for posterity.

Comment