Exclusion of Haolenphai Village, Moreh from nominated smart cities
Imphal , 28th August, 2015
The Thadou Students’ Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) thanks Shri. Narendra Modi, Hon. Prime Minister of India and Shri. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon. Minister for Urban Development, Govt. of India, for excluding the Tribal land namely, Haolenphai Village, Moreh, of Manipur from the nominated smart cities as declared yesterday at National Media Centre, New Delhi.
The Government of Manipur proposed to set up a New Township in the border town of Moreh (Indo-Myanmar border) since 2012 and tried to grab tribal land of about 3000 acres of land in the name of smart city (Modi’s govt. flagship of 2014 India election) at Haolenphai village. TSA protested against the State Government’s proposal to acquire tribal land at Haolenphai village and its vicinity and in this regard had submitted memorandums to the State Government and several Union ministers, particularly to the Prime Minister of India on 21st November 2014.
As part of the protest, TSA also imposed a 48 hours total bandh on national highways within Manipur from 19 to 20 November 2014. We also staged a mass peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 22nd Nov., 2014.
We salute brave and bold Thadou Chief Mr. Lalkholun Haokip, Chief of Haolenphai village, who loves the land, his people, culture, identity and we deeply appreciate his relentless commitment to the cause of his people and the tribal community at large. Mr. Lalkholun has proven himself as a true tribal chief and a positive role model.
We express our appreciation and gratitude to Save Tribal Land (Haolenphai) facebook group and all the organizations and individuals who have supported this noble cause morally, financially, physically, through prayer or any form of support.
We warn the Government of Manipur that if they still insist to acquire tribal land against the wishes and interests of the tribal people, any form of democratic resistance movement will be launched to protect tribal interests. As such, we urge the State Government to revoke at the earliest if in case it has any such plan.
( James Haokip )
Secretary General, TSA-GHQ
* This Press Relese was sent to e-pao.net by Thadou Students' Association, General Headquarters who can be contacted at tsaghq(aT)gmail(doT)com
This Press Release was posted on August 29 2015
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