Observe May 3 as Raising Day for Indigenous People, MeRF appeals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 27 2024: The Meetei Resurgence Forum (MeRF) has appealed to people and organisations to observe May 3, 2024 as "Yelhoumee Meekap Thokpa Numit-Raising Day for Indigenous People" .

At Manipur Press Club, Imphal today, MeRF president T Ramananda said except a few, the majority of the people were not aware of the impacts of illegal immigrants before May 3, 2023 .

Around 2,400 Kuki refugees from Myanmar entered Manipur in 1967, and their number since has increased manifold, he said.

Ramananda continued that after the Assam Rifles and Kuki militant groups signed the Suspension of Operation pact, which later became a tripartite agreement with the Manipur Government entering the agreement, the influx of illegal immigrants and their settlement in Manipur boomed.

With increased influx, many new villages mushroomed, and reserve forests were destroyed for settlement and poppy cultivation, he added.

While the indigenous people were not much aware of these issues for years, the problems and impacts came into the open and were known only after May 3, 2023, he said.

After May 3, 2023, people came to know of the problems of illegal immigrants and the threats they pose.

People are now aware of the sinister design that has caused demographic imbalance, he said, appealing to all to observe May 3, 2024 as "Yelhoumee Meekap Thokpa Numit- Raising Day for Indigenous People" .

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attributed the protracted violent crisis of Manipur to illegal immigration from Myanmar.

Subsequently, the Central Government has decided to end Free Movement Regime along Indo-Myanmar border.

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