The meeting was participated by women group, youths, Meira paibi, church elders and other activist of the area.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Pu Pongthang (Church Elder), Mr. Pu. Akhup (Village Elder) and Mr. Achung Kom (Sagang Sangsherphai).
Mr. D.K Livon spoke on the need to protect the agricultural land from getting destructed by the Oil Exploration and drilling of Oil in Manipur. He highlighted that the people should not forget that why the two women War broke in Manipur. One War was fighting against the British to stop exporting of rice from Manipur. Likewise the Oil companies coming in Manipur is not the sign of development but trying to make the people displaced and migrate to other places which will lead to loss of identity and culture. If the agricultural land where the villagers are dependent on is once taken away then it will never come back instead the place will be left only the ashes. Many unknown diseases will hit the population like the people of Bangladesh is now facing due to the mining of natural resources like Coal, Limestone and Uranium in Meghalaya. The negative impact from the oil exploration will destroy the nature and the forest, water and the agricultural land in which the indigenous people are dependent on. He appeals to the people to give support to work collectively by not issuing N.O.C to the Oil Companies.
Mr. Md Boinao, Member of YFPHR was also present in the public meeting as a resource person and shared his views.
Resolution of the Meeting
1. Not to cooperate with the Oil Companies by not Providing N.O.C
2. To stop any Oil exploration in the Area of Sagang and Manipur in General.
This Press Release was sent by Youthforum Humanrights, who can be contacted at youthforum(dot)humanrights(at)gmail(dot)com