Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28:
In commemoration of the mass rally taken out on September 28, 2008 against any attempt to disintegrate Manipur, the 8th Integrity and Solidarity Day was observed today at MDU hall.
The observance jointly organised by AMKIL and NIPCO was attended by Kuki Inpi Manipur president Holkholun, Komrem Union president John L Karung, chairman of Indigenous Tribe Leaders' Council Churachandpur district Khaipao Haokip, president of Zeliangrong United Clubs' Association Manipur Valley Meibon Phaomei, secretary of Integrated Rural Development Association Md Rajauddin, Freedom editor RK Ranendrajit, AMKIL president Ph Sakhi and NIPCO president Y Nabachandra as presidium members.
Speaking at the occasion, Prof W Nabakumar of the Centre for Myanmar Studies, Manipur University asserted that the present society is living with a dependent culture.
Because of the existing circumstances, there is an antibiosis among the people threatening the integrity of the State.
As such, people need to shed dependency culture and cultivate work culture in addition to developing a symbiosis amongst the people for national integration, Prof Nabakumar.
Other speakers of the function stressed on the need to retrospect the social and economic conditions of indigenous people.
Observing that India is a growing power in South Asia, they called upon all to study if there is any change in the policy of New Delhi with respect to the self-determination movements being raised in the North East region.
They also appealed to all the people to study the perceptions of the international community about the self-determination movements small nations.
They further noted that all the indigenous people need to work a common stance under mutual understanding and love to bring about an egalitarian society.
The function culminated with presentation of cultural programmes by different ethnic groups.