KSO smells a rat in Moreh land allotment
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2014: The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) has categorically stated that the impudence shown by the Revenue Department by allotting land measuring 3.6465 hectares to Commerce and Industries, Fire Services, Medical, Treasury and PWD is not acceptable.

The village chiefs did not have an inkling of this land acquisition, when an inquiry was initiated by the KSO.

No chief's authorization was obtained when the Government allotted these lands to the different departments.

The KSO and other tribal organizations have been suspicious that the Government is making a game plan to grab tribal lands in the hills.

The Government created reserved forests, parks, JFMC etc.

disrespectin the chief's rights, said a press release issued by KSO general secretary Seiboi Haokip.

The chiefs who are mostly illiterate generally kept silent because of their gullibility; and also because of the notion that it was all for development and for the good of the poor villagers.

So, out of ignorance, the chiefs were in the dark while their lands were steadily acquired in the guise of development and progress.

The Government is becoming a land shark.

The KSO will no longer remain a mute spectator to this policy.

During Chief Minister RK Jaichandra's time, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the MLR & LR Act to cover all the hill districts of Manipur and the Act was sent to the Governor of Manipur for his assent.

However the Governor flatly rejected the Act saying that it needs the approval of the Hill Area Committee and the Act was eventually quashed.

It is baffling how an Act already repealed in the past can now be used to acquire lands in the hill areas.

While the Government does not have the guts to acquire land in Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati it differentially treated the lands in Kuki inhabited areas without any regard.

"It acted as if our lands are wastelands and opened for acquisition.

In fact the Government always tries to acquire land at its fancy and whims.

The latest being the 3000 acres acquisition plan in Haolenphai", the KSO decried.

In the beginning it was just 250 acres, then 1000 acres, and now 3000 acres.

The plan to acquire such massive area of land smells of a sinister design.

It is inviting civil unrest by this action.

As a matter of fact, the chief of Haolenphai has the unquestionable authority to grant plot of land for settlement within his village, at the same time the chief also has the rights to refuse any sale of land.

It seems the Government is trying to make sure its land revenue and land reform policy applies to hill areas too.

It passed acts or laws detrimental to tribal traditional landownership system.

The Village Authority Act, Village Development Council Act, etc.

are such laws designed to drive a wedge between the chief and his villagers.

These Acts or Laws are in contravention to the tribal customary Chief's/Khullakpa's relation with villagers.

All the Chiefs and Khullakpas and the tribal people should defy these land laws unitedly to protect ourselves.

All tribal MLAs/Ministers, MPs, MDCs must uphold the sanctity of the traditional tribal landownership system and should work accordingly.

The government if it is sincere enough to usher in development in Moreh, must learn to tread carefully so as to avoid civil unrest.

"Development which condescends upon our traditions and customs is meaningless development for us", it added.

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