AMUCO observes Protest Day, reaffirms integrity pledge
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2019: The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) observed the 18th Protest Day at Kwakeithel here today and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary.

Speaking at the gathering, AMUCO president Ph Deban recalled that the Government of India and NSCN-IM signed the Bangkok Declaration on June 14, 2001 wherein the words 'without territorial limits' were inserted.

On the same day, people of Manipur raised a strong voice of objection collectively and it marked the beginning of a sustained mass movement against extension of ceasefire agreement within the territory of Manipur.

AMUCO observes Protest Day, reaffirms integrity pledge

The Protest Day is being observed every year in commemoration of the people's vociferous opposition to the ceasefire extension without territorial limits, Deban said.

After Manipur was allegedly annexed into the Indian Union in 1949, the Government of India has been following a divide and rule policy in the State which they learnt from the British colonial rulers, he alleged.

The divide and rule policy of the Government of India was driven by the fact that the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union was not done in a lawful manner or in accordance with international norms.

At the same time, the divisive policy is aimed at suppressing the people of Manipur for good and distort its long history, said the AMUCO president.

He said that when NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India for the first time in August 1997, it gave a perfect tool to New Delhi to enforce its divide and rule policy vigorously.

AMUCO and the people of Manipur are neither concerned with nor oppose the ceasefire agreement signed between GoI and NSCN-IM.

Yet, the ceasefire agreement should not challenge the integrity of Manipur, its territorial boundary and any arrangement which would divide the people of Manipur on ethnic lines would be opposed tooth and nail, he asserted.

The Bangkok Agreement provoked the people of Manipur very badly as it completely overlooked the collective voice and civil movements to protect the sanctity of the State's integrity.

On June 15, 2001, a public meeting was held with several civil society organisations on the Bangkok Declaration.

In the meantime, the State Government imposed restrictions on people's movement under Section 144 CrPC.

Subsequently, civil society organisations called a 66 hour State-wide general strike from June 15 midnight till June 18 In the course of the general strike, 18 sons and daughters of the soil achieved martyrdom on June 18, and their martyrdom rang out a loud and clear message to the whole world that the integrity of Manipur is sacrosanct, Deban said.

In response to the Government of India's attitude to suppress the people's movement with brute military force, a number of Government offices including the Manipur Legislative Assembly were set ablaze, and many Ministers and MLAs took refuge at Delhi.

The AMUCO president then urged the Government of India to give up its militaristic approach while dealing with civil movements in Manipur.

New Delhi must respect Manipur which has its own identity, culture, territory and existed as a sovereign kingdom for thousands of years, he said.

A peaceful solution which does not create conflicts among different communities and guarantees all due rights would be most welcomed, he said referring to the political dialogue going on between GoI and NSCN-IM, Deban said.