Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jun 13:
Reiterating its firm belief in the paramountcy of maintaining unity and solidarity of the 'oppressed people' of Manipur, Nagaland and North-East region as a whole, the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) noted that no historically established State in the world including Manipur would ever concede its territory in the way the Government of India perceived through its June 14 Bangkok Agreement with NSCN (IM) by adding 'three obnoxious words'.
A statement issued by AMUCO noted that the Government of India would have been well aware of the far-reaching consequences entailed thereof notwithstanding what the armed movement of non-State actor (NSA) demanding Nagaland's independence, expected of the entire territory of Manipur barring the tiny river valley.
It also maintained that Nagaland would not concede Tuensang to NEFA nor Dimapur to Dimashas nor would it allow it to fragment in mini-States of different ethnic groups.
It said that cementing and further reinforcing the historical brotherhood, fraternity and solidarity of all ethnic groups in both the hills and valley of Manipur for eternity is the basic prerequisite to preserve the two millennia old boundary and territorial integrity of Manipur.
Consequent upon the annexation of the erstwhile independent kingdom of Manipur into the Indian Union in 1949, several institutions were redefined and new inter-community equations superimposed which only resulted in different ethnic groups of the State drifting apart, asserted AMUCO.
Quite contrary to the high expectations of the people from the democratic rule within Indian Union, notwithstanding its associated positive developments, gave rise to new political demands from certain quarters which are highly provocative and controversial they would eventually lead to balkanization of the two millennia old, internationally recognised territorial boundary of three States and one neighbouring country, it observed.
These demands have already generated sufficient heat and dust in the otherwise harmonious relation between and among all the ethnic groups of the North-East region.
It further recalled of the serious efforts put in by AMUCO and other fraternal organisations to douse the raging fire of ethnic clashes which erupted in the hills of Manipur in 1993.In 1996, the Committee for Peace and Integrity (COFPAI) made its best attempts to broker peace between the warring groups and to put to an end to the genocidal ethnic clash, mentioned the statement.
With lessons learnt well from such a bitter experience, the people of Manipur under the aegis of AMUCO organised the historic rally of August 4, 1997 which still remains the biggest public rally in the entire South-East Asia to thwart the diabolic designs of the Government of India towards dismemberment of Manipur.
The subsequent mass rally of September 28, 2000 further reinforced the same steadfast resolution and argument of the people against the 'disputed agreement', it noted.
As it is well aware that such a fait accompli once committed by the Govt of India, it would be impossible to rectify in future.
AMUCO being inspired and cornered by historical reasons of paramount importance and compelled by the need for maintaining inter-ethnic peace and harmony in the entire region, had to protest against the irresponsible act of the Govt of India, it elucidated.
The guiding principle of AMUCO is to avert any kind of conflict before such conflicts razes the entire North-East region and conveyed its hope that "all the outfits, NGOs and non-State actors would appreciate such a policy to avoid the region from irreversibly falling apart by our own acts or omissions" .