Peoples' participation in resolving conflict begins to fire the imagination of many
Meet deliberates on Indo-Manipur conflict
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2011: A public meeting on Indo-Manipur conflict and public participation in resolving the conflict was held today at Saiton Keithel in Bishnupur district.

Addressing the meeting, Nupi Samaj general secretary Thokchom Ramani asserted that the alleged forced merger of Manipur into India is the root cause of the insurgency movement.

For more that 50 years, people of Manipur have been suffering under several repressive measures allegedly unleashed by the Government of India.

Annexation of Manipur by India sowed the seeds of insurgency movement, she asserted.

"We brought up our children with high hopes and grand vision so that we can depend on them in our old age.

We educate them and give them all our love.

"But our hope goes up in flames when our children are being gunned down as by security forces who are licensed to kill and for the loss of our beloved sons, we are given certain amounts as ex-gratia", Ramani observed.

"How long should we accept such ruthless practice of the Government ? How long should we barter our beloved sons with money ?" she asked.

Call for peoples' participation catches the imagination of many

Though it is claimed that security forces are here to protect the people and their properties, they have been killing civilians at their own whim.

She reminded the gathering about the horrendous killings at Heirangoithong, RIMS, Malom etc.

It was also security personnel who shot dead the young Rabina, who was at an advanced stage of pregnancy in the heart of Imphal town in broad daylight on July 23, 2009, Ramani asserted.

People of Manipur have been suffering these endless atrocities for more than 50 years.

On the other hand, both the Government of India and the State Government have been maintaining an indifferent stand towards Irom Sharmila's 10 year old campaign to repeal the draconian AFSPA and to stop State sponsored atrocities.

Meet deliberates on Indo-Myanmar.

She further asserted that a lasting solution to the Indo-Manipur conflict can be achieved by the people's collective voice and strength.

The public meeting adopted three resolutions including a demand that the people should be allowed to participate in resolving the Indo-Manipur conflict and for this, there should be a plebiscite.

All the cases of UNLF Chairman Sana Yaima and other insurgents arrested outside the State should be transferred to the Government of Manipur.

The third resolution of the meeting was to send the first two resolutions to the United Nations and International Human Rights Organisations urging them to assist in resolving the Indo-Manipur conflict.