CHURACHANDPUR, January 14: The JAC Against the Anti-tribal Bills supported by other tribal bodies including the United Naga Council has called a 5-day total chakka bandh/blockade on all highways passing through the tribal territories of the State as well as all national projects starting from February 1.
The decision to call the blockade was arrived at during the JAC’s 5th consultative meeting held today at the Synod hall, IB Road participated by representatives of all major tribal groups of the State including the United Naga Council and the Autonomous District Council Sadar Hills.
The meeting also resolved that the tribals of Manipur should abstain from attending the Indian Republic Day celebration on January 26 as an act on non-cooperation movement.
A statement of the JAC said the Manipur government has refused to acknowledge the tribal rights and privileges enshrined in the Constitution of India and the Central government has turned a blind eye to the plight of the tribal people.
It further said that due to the failure of the Manipur government regarding the issues relating to the “three anti-tribal bills”, and the State cabinet’s admittance on December 29, 2015 in front of the JAC delegation team that the three bills are agenda of the CorCom, it is clearly evident that there is constitutional breakdown and abject failure of governance in the State which is more than enough ground for the immediate imposition of the President’s Rule and that the JAC should convey the same to the Central government.
It was also resolved that the MDCs of the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur being the local government representing the people, should be made an active part of the tribal movement by initiating the process of canvassing the support of other hill districts/ ADCs as well as entrusting them with all issues relating to filing of FIR by the families of the nine tribal martyrs which will be initiated within three days after deliberating the same with the JAC.
It was also resolved that the JAC/ JPO should organise dharnas outside the morgue from time to time and educate the masses on the current issues and developments and that a JAC think-tank comprising of like-minded elders and intellectuals from different tribal communities of Manipur should be formed.
Meanwhile, at the onset of the occasion, convenor of the JAC H Mangchinkhup welcomed the gathering.
Speaking at the consultative meeting, Thangkhanlal Ngaihte a core member of the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi said the concern that the tribal movement is dying is only a hype, whereas, the movement is still very strong as no proper thinking tribal can support the “anti-tribal bills.”
He said the forum has met the Union Home Minister and other bureaucrats who have expressed surprise at the lukewarm response from the tribal MLAs of the State.
Ngaihte said even people from the Meitei community especially those with CPI leanings have supported the tribal movement as they feel that the bills have hurt the tribals and are detrimental to the integrity of the State.
He continued that he has talked to senior journalists and editors of the State who have also expressed their reservations against the bills.
We don’t talk of community interest but of tribal unity, he said adding that the forum will compile the daily protest at Jantar Mantar, Delhi in a documentary for posterity.
Meanwhile, during the consultation many speakers opposed the idea of boycotting national level events as it may not go down well with the Centre.
Asin Pau of UNC said boycotting the Indian Republic Day will not be in our favour as our protest are under the ambit of the Indian Constitution and democratic exercises.
He said we should avoid or drop the word ‘boycott” as we are not anti-indians, but we have the right to abstain from the event and as such use the word ‘abstain instead of boycott.’
He said the word boycott is a word of the UGs and we must continue on the democratic path.
Asin continued as for the indefinite blockade or general strike against the developmental works in the hills, it is best not to use the word indefinite but instead continue with a set-time like five-days or ten-days of strike and then extend it, he observed.
ADC Churachandpur chairman Langkhanpau Guite who attended the meeting with some of his colleagues said the council is always will the JAC and back the tribal unity.
He said we are as pained as everyone else and on the third day of the incident had convened an emergency meeting.
He further proposed going forward and said co-operation and consultation is the need of the hour.