NEFIP set to launch fresh anti-CAB movement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 27 2019: The North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) has announced that public protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, CAB, 2016 will be held in all the North East States on October 3 to mark the beginning of a fresh campaign against the same Bill.

The campaign will be spearheaded by Manipur Peoples Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (MANPAC) in the State under the aegis of NEFIP.

Addressing a press meet held today at MANPAC office located at Konjeng Hazari Leikai, Tiddim Road, NEFIP president Ningthouja Lancha conveyed that the first central executive council meeting of NEFIP had a threadbare discussion on different issues of the North East.

NEFIP set to launch fresh anti-CAB movement

Informing that the issues which were deliberated and discussed at length included the latest developments regarding the contentious CAB, 2016, the Union Home Minister's appeal to impose Hindi language and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 2007, Lancha claimed that seven resolutions were also adopted at the CEC meeting.

He conveyed that the resolutions include, launching mass movement against CAB in the entire North East region on October 3 to mark the beginning of the fresh campaign against the same Bill.

He also said that the CEC meeting also unanimously resolved to reiterate the resolutions which were taken earlier against CAB and had been submitted to the Prime Minister on August 9, 2019.Saying that NEFIP demands immediate withdrawal of CAB, 2016 and condemns the statements of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and NEDA Convener Himanta Biswa Sarma which claimed that GoI will reintroduce the contentious Bill in the upcoming Parliament Session in November, the NEFIP president went on to demand the State Legislative Assemblies the of North East States adopt a resolution each in their respective Houses, urging the GoI to take necessary steps to implement UNDRIP in letter and in spirit in the entire North East region.

Alleging that the GoI has been consistently trying to annihilate the indigenous peoples of the North East region by taking recourse to various Acts and policies which amount to genocidal attempts, he cautioned that NEFIP has also resolved to seek UN intervention if the GoI does not stop carrying out such acts and practices.

MANPAC convener Yumnamcha Dilipkumar informed that the committee, under the aegis of NEFIP will spearhead the fresh campaign against CAB in the State.

Asserting that NEFIP in its recently held CEC meeting decided to sensitize indigenous peoples of North East region on the ill effects of CAB in the region, he stated that the fresh anti-CAB campaign will emphasize on educating the public about the adverse impacts of the Bill apart from holding democratic form of agitations.