Condolence service for 8 deceased in Manipur

The Shillong-based Manipur indigenous tribal community, under the aegis of the Committee for the Protection of Manipur Tribal Rights (CPMTR), held a condolence meeting in honour of the 8 deceased persons in the fight for indigenous tribal rights in Manipur at EFCI Centennial Hall, Demthring on 3rd September, 2015

The condolence service was attended by a thuosand strong crowd drawing from the different tribal communities residing in the city and deeply mourned the sad demise of the young men who had sacrified their lives for the cause of tribal rights.  During the service, a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls was observed. Leaders at the gathering condemns the targeted discrimination and injustice against the tribal by the Manipur Government. 

It may be mentioned that the current indigenous tribal mass movement that has recently erupted in the hill districts of Manipur is on account of three bills passed by the Manipur State Legislative Assembly, namely the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and the Manipur Shops & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015. The indigenous tribes of Manipur objected to the bills owing to their infringement on the rights of indigenous tribes as granted by the Indian Constitution. Moreover, the Government of Manipur has not been forthcoming with the bills and has not held the necessary consultations with apex tribal authorities such as, among others, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC). This infuriates the indigenous tribes. Things came to a head on 31st August 2015 when protests by the indigenous tribes in Churachandpur District of Manipur were met with brute force by state security resulting in both fatal and non-fatal casualties. The situation has grown graver each day.

The CPMTR is likely to conduct a peaceful demonstration in Shillong next week to protest the three bills that allegedly infringe upon the rights of the Manipur tribals. A meeting will be held this Saturday at the Kuki Worship Service Conference Hall, Law-u-Sib, Shillong to discuss the matter, according to CPMTR spokesperson Mr. Khup Hangzo.