IMPHAL, Dec 8: Observing that the present threat to Manipur’s integrity is mainly the result of the present administration’s failure, the International Meiteis Forum (IMF) on Saturday said the forum will convince other indigenous communities living in the North-Eastern India to support the cause for safeguarding the ancestral boundary of the land being threatened allegedly on “parochial communal lines” and to stand unitedly against the steps of the NSCN-IM, Kuki National Organisation (KNO), United People’s Front (UPF), and other civil bodies like United Naga Council (UNC) and Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) to disintegrate Manipur.
IMF addressed a press conference at the Manipur Pres Club announcing its formation on December 5 when the forum reacted against the much hyped Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas outside the Government of Manipur pending the vexed Naga political problem and the demand for separate Kuki homeland as well.
Members of the newly floated civil organization, IMF S Samananda, RK Gopalsana, former member, Manipur Human Rights Commission, W Homeshwor, advocate and RK Rajendra attended the press conference.
Saying that IMF whole-heartedly respects the firm and stand and commitment of the United Committee Manipur (UCM), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation) AMUCO), civil societies, political and non-political bodies in safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, it alleged the main organizations representing the so-called Nagas and Kukis (alien nomenclatures in the soil) have already reached the saturating point of their communal diplomacy to disintegrate the state.
Calling the main organizations representing the Nagas and Kukis “communal forces,” IMF blamed them for propagating and pressurizing at the national and international bodies with “concocted histories of the land” for their parochial interests.
“Acknowledging that the Government of India has now indicated the very willingness to grant political solutions through political dialogues by declaring ‘ceasefire’ or ‘Suspension of Operation’ with warring factions of so-called Nagas and Kukis (Nagas for ‘Alternative Arrangement’ and Kukis for ‘Homeland/Separate State)”, IMF said it observes that the weightage of considering the Meiteis’ interest that is, the Manipur’s interest (safeguarding the territorial boundary of Manipur) in the ongoing Central Government sponsored political dialogues is less considered by the parties.
Pledging that IMF will convince other indigenous communities living in the North-Eastern Inda to support the cause for safeguarding the ancestral boundary of the land being threatened allegedly on parochial communal lines and to stand unitedly against the disintegrating steps by the NSCN-IM, United People’s Front, and other civil bodies like the United Naga Council and Kuki State Demand Committee, IMF said it believes in living together all indigenous communities of the region with love, peace and dignity.
Pointing out that it is a living fact that the valley areas occupying 8 percent of the state, IMF said the valley is accommodating all the communities of the state which has led to population explosion in the valley only.
Observing that if the Government cannot become rational, justifiable and proactive enough against this discrimination then ethnic clashes will surely be destined to happen in near future, IMF asked whether it is what the Governments of India and Manipur are expecting in this land.
Once more, the IMF appealed that all the communities of the land should accept the true history of their “origins” and respect the historical legacies in order to avoid such catastrophe for maintaining the old-age love and interdependency.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/meitei-forum-on-boundary-issue/
