COPTAM serves ultimatum to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 04 2011:
Giving an ultimatum to the State Government for bringing about an amicable solution over its pending demands within 15 days, Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas of Manipur (COPTAM) has announced its decision of resuming agitation from June 20 if the demands were not fulfilled.
Talking to mediapersons in this connection at Motbung today, secretary of COPTAM Thangkam Lupheng lamented that the Government has remained indifferent to the demands of COPTAM.
These demands have been placed before the Government of Manipur since 2010, he pointed out.
Speaking on the demands, Thangkam Lupheng asserted that in the Census Operation, 2011, many new villages which were none existent in the hill districts have been included and double entry has led to the problem of overlapping.
Moreover, fixing the rate of population growth in the hill districts by the respective district administration has left out many from the Census Operation.
So, the Government should allow re-entry of those left out at the earliest possible.
Thangkam Lupheng demanded that activities related to land record and revenue collection of the hill districts being carried out in the nearby valley districts should be stopped and handed over to the hill districts concerned.
The exact boundaries of the hill districts should also be demarcated and an order should be issued for keeping the original boundary of the hill districts on the basis of the original boundary of the villages demarcated under Manipur State Hills People (Administration) Regulations, 1947 .
Thangkam Lupheng said that COPTAM has no objection as such to the demand for upgradation of Jiribam to a full-fledged revenue district.
However, it should be made a hill district.
The land on which the Police Training Centre is being constructed at Jiribam is not the khasland of the Government but tribal land.
So, acquisition of the land should be carried out keeping in mind the necessary formalities, Thangkam Lupheng demanded, adding that the border town Moreh which is part of Chandel district should be regarded as rural area.
Contending that Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Second Amendment Ordinance, 2010 has not only posed impediment against promotion of tribal customary and traditional laws but also make a mockery on the role of the village chiefs in the administration of their respective villages, Thangkam Lupheng stated resolutely that the such ordinance should not be allowed to be imposed on the tribals under any given circumstances.