Guwahati
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an umbrella body of tribals in Manipur, on Saturday, reached out to the newly-formed opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A seeking its support for its demands.
“We fervently appeal to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) to take up our cause and apprise the nation about our plight. We implore you to help us survive this onslaught by supporting our demand for a separate administration from Manipur and to urge the Central government to introduce President Rule immediately in Manipur to end the violence,” the ITLF stated in its two-page letter to the opposition parties.
A team of the opposition bloc visited the riot-hit town of Churachandpur where they met Kuki leaders and members of the civil society besides ethnic strife victims in the relief camps where they were lodged.
Signed by ITLF chairman Pagin Haokip and secretary Muan Tombing, the letter claimed, “While all sides have suffered, the minority Kuki-Zo tribals have borne the brunt of the violence, making up over two-thirds of the deaths in the conflict.”
It alleged that thousands of weapons looted from State armouries in Imphal are being used in the ethnic cleansing campaign.
“To add to our plight, State police commandos with sophisticated guns and mortars have been openly joining armed Meitei gunmen in raiding tribal villages and attacking the frontlines. Gaps in military buffer zones are being constantly exploited, and the Army and other security forces are handicapped because President’s Rule has still not been implemented,” it alleged.
The ITLF further pointed out that the blockade of the only national highway leading to the hills of Churachandpur also means that lakhs of tribals are facing shortage of essential commodities and medicine.
“Those that are available are ferried from Mizoram through mountainous roads, leading to a huge increase in the prices of goods,” the ITLF said adding since the start of the violence on May 3, it has recorded 119 confirmed deaths, mostly innocent civilians, among the tribals with over 7,000 homes burnt, 359 churches destroyed and more than 40,000 tribals displaced.
“Tribals and Meiteis are now separated physically. After so much blood and trauma, there is no possibility of them living together again. We refuse to entertain the thought of going back to living under the communal Manipur government controlled by the Meitei community,” the letter read.
“The next logical step is to separate us politically. For the Kuki-Zo tribals to survive in our own land we are asking the Central government to give us the right to govern ourselves under the Indian constitution,” the ITLF stated.
MEANWHILE
- Union Ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Anurag Thakur on Saturday slammed the Opposition for “playing politics” over the Manipur violence issue, saying these parties do not want a debate on this matter in Parliament and their visit to the State was a “mere show-off”. Had the opposition allowed discussion in Parliament, the country would have come to know what kind of actions have been taken by the government in the matter, Meghwal said. Thakur pointed out, “When Manipur used to remain shut for months, they had not spoken a word.”
- In Manipur, after visiting a relief camp, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “They are talking of investigation by CBI (into the crimes committed). I would like to ask were they (central government) sleeping till now?” TMC leader Sushmita Dev said the team will speak with representatives of both the communities. The team led by Chowdhury visited a relief camp set up at the Boys Hostel of Churachandpur College.
- Another team, comprising Congress’ deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and others, went to a relief camp at Don Bosco School in Churachandpur. On Sunday, the delegation will meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhawan.
- Chennai-based publisher and blogger Badri Seshadri was arrested on Saturday for his comments on the judiciary while discussing the Manipur violence in an interview with a YouTube channel.
