Imphal, December 27 2008: Under the banner of 'Manipur Levy, 2008', a historic peace march of the Manipur Diaspora would be taken out from Silchar, Assam to Imphal starting from December 30 .

To be held under the theme of 'The spirit of freedom', the peace march would be attended by around 500 volunteers, 250 volunteers from among the Manipuris settling in Barak and Brahmaputra valley of Assam and 250 volunteers from Imphal.

Addressing a press conference in connection with the proposed peace march at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, chairman of the Co-ordinating Committee of the Historic Peace March of the Manipuri Diaspora RK Ranendrajit informed that the send off ceremony of the peace march would be held at Silchar on December 29 .

Being organised as part of the 152rd birth anniversary celebration of Bir Tikendrajit, the send off ceremony would be attended by Lok Sabha MP from Manipur Dr Th Meinya, MLAs of Legislative Assembly of Assam Qutub Ahemad Majumdar, Pethika Deb, Dinesh Prasad Gwala and Minister Gautam Roy, he informed, adding that after the send off ceremony, the peace marchers would set out from Silchar in the morning of December 30 and arrive at Jiribam in the afternoon.

The march would resume from Jiribam in the morning of December 31 and arrive at Imphal on January 8, 2009.While covering the distance from Jiribam to Imphal, the peace marchers would halt for the nights at various places like Makru on December 31, at Kaimai on January 1, at Khangbarol on January 2, at Khongshang on January 3, at Awangkhul on January 4, at Tupul on January 5, at New Keithelmanbi on January 6 and at SAI Complex, Takyelpat on January 7 .

On January 8, a reception function would be hosted in honour of the peace marchers at Kangla and they would halt the night at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.

On the following day, a function would be held at the Langthabal memorial of Maharaja Gambhir Singh.

To mark the occasion, a mass peace rally would also be taken out from there to various important routes of Imphal.

On January 10, 2009, a discussion session on 'HIV/AIDS and social psychology in the conflict situation of Manipur' would be held at the jubilee hall of RIMS and on January 11, an interaction session on performing arts would be hosted at the Th Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen.

After a seminar on 'Historical perspective of the historical diaspora' at Manipur University on January 12, the peace marchers from Barak and Brahmaputra valley would leave Imphal on January 13, Ranendrajit informed.

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