AMUCO reiterates stand on Integrity Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 04 2020:
The collective pledge to protect the integrity of Manipur has been reaffirmed once again as the 23rd Manipur Integrity Day was observed today under the aegis of the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) .
The 23rd Manipur Integrity Day was observed at the Kwakeithel Akham Leikai office of AMUCO with the participants adhering to the COVID-19 SOP and guidelines.
AMUCO president Pheiroijam Nando Luwang and Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur president Longjam Memchoubi presided the function.
The gathering adopted a firm and non-negotiable position on the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its geographical boundary.
The Manipur Integrity Day observation was opened with offering of floral tributes at the Integrity Pillar located at the eastern corner of Mapal Kangjeibung.
Giving the key-note address of the function, AMUCO general secretary L Thoithoi Khuman said that the Manipur Integrity Day is being observed every year on August 4 since 1998 in commemoration of the historic mammoth rally staged at Imphal on August 4, 1997 which sent a clear and loud message to the whole world that any threat to the integrity and territorial boundary of Manipur would not tolerated.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commemorative function is being organised in a low-key manner although the historic rally staged in 1997 is by far the biggest ever mass rally staged in Manipur, Thoithoi said.
Nonetheless, the low-key function is still a clear reminder to the Government of India (GoI) that the people of Manipur would always stand firm on their position to defend the integrity of Manipur at all costs, asserted the AMUCO general secretary.
Nando Luwang recalled that GoI and NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement on July 25, 1997 and it became effective from August 1 same year.
As the people of Manipur had a premonition that the ceasefire agreement might threaten the integrity of Manipur, AMUCO organised a mammoth rally on August 4 and adopted collective decision to protect Manipur from all kinds of challenges, Nando Luwang said.
One may question as to why a third party should raise objections when two parties parley to come to an agreement but AMUCO is of the firm belief that the solution sought by the two negotiating parties is not something which would bring peace and prosperity in the entire North East.
Moreover, dishonesty, ad-hocism and infeasibility are reflected well in the solution sought by the two parties, remarked the AMUCO president.
Instead of learning any lesson from the historic rally, another round of agreement known as the Bangkok Declaration was signed on June 14, 2001 wherein the words 'without territorial limits" were inserted.
This sparked a violent mass civil protest movement in June 2001 which led to the loss of many precious lives, Nando recalled.
In the name of the peace process, GoI has been scheming for the last 23 years to sow seeds of discord and disharmony among the indigenous communities of the North East in general and Manipur in particular, he said.
"There have been unwarranted tirades among the indigenous communities of the State and now we are ashamed of it", Nando Luwang continued.
"GoI has been working to sap our energy and resources as indicated by their failure to bring a fruitful solution which is acceptable to all stake holders", he added.
Nando Luwang then called upon all the communities of Manipur to be always on guard against any divisive policy of GoI.
Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, Nando remarked that it is not very clear who is leading the fight against the pandemic in Manipur.
It is rather unfortunate that everyone can see big communication gaps among Government departments/agencies in the battle against COVID-19, he decried.
It is a matter of grave concern that many patients suffering from different health problems are being denied treatment in the name of taking safety and precautionary measures against COVID-19, he said.
He appealed to all COVID-19 frontline workers particularly doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers not to neglect people suffering from different health problems in the name of fighting coronavirus.
Nando Luwang further mooted the idea of installing CCTV cameras in ICUs.
"Having said this, I am not questioning the ethics of doctors and health care workers", he chipped in.
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