Thousands rally at Ukhrul in Ritah’s solidarity

From Our Correspondent

UKHRUL | Aug 16

Thousands of Catholics turned up at Ukhrul headquarters to take part in the peaceful rally organised by JAC for burial of Ritah Haorei’s mortal remains at Leingangching and for the abolition of the village Constitution “one village, one denomination’’.

The rally started from Sacred Heart, Hungpung and ended at Viewland. The JAC submitted a memorandum to the chief minister of the state through the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul. The morning drizzle did not dampen the spirit of the protestors.

There was some information doing the rounds that the Tangkhul Naga Long, a civil body was against the rally. None of the representatives of TNL could be contacted to ascertain their stand on the rally.

Convenor of JAC while addressing the gathering before the rally took off remarked that necessary permission for organising peaceful rally was obtained from the district administration and TNL has no right to force and stop the proposed peaceful rally.

Coming down heavily against the village constitution of Leingangching, the JAC convenor pointed out that the said constitution violates Indian constitution, its secular spirit and fundamental rights. The controversial Article 18 of the village constitution read, “There should not be any denominational activity dividing the existing religion (i.e. Baptist Christianity)”.

 Most Rev. Dominic Lumon, Archbishop of Imphal, Manipur asserted that we are here to protest against the violation of our rights and register our grievances to the authority concerned.

The memorandum called for abolition of “One Village One Denomination” as it is inhuman and violates basic fundamental rights. It also demanded full security protection for the burial of Ritah at her home yard.

The memorandum calls for enabling the persecuted victims to return and settle in the village and also to provide compensation for rebuilding their destroyed houses and punishment to the human rights violators according to the law of the land.

The JAC also appealed for constituting a fact finding body under chief minister’s watch.

The district administration provided security to the peaceful rally.

It may be recalled that Ritah Haorei (42) wife of Yangmi Haorei passed away in August 7. The denial of the burial of her body by Leinganching because she was a Catholic led to the formation of JAC, consisting of various Catholics from various districts of Manipur says the memorandum.