COPTAM bandh against Panchayat Polls begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Lamka, September 12, 2012:
The Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has announced a 12-hour general strike in Manipur hill districts against the inclusion of some villages in the Panchayat Elections from 5 am to 5 pm tomorrow.
Panchayat election is scheduled tomorrow.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, general secretary of COPTAM Thangkam Lupheng contended that some of the villages which have been brought under Panchayat election are already under Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) and urged the public not to participate in the Panchayat election 2012. Lupheng informed that movement of people in the hill areas would be prohibited during the course of the general strike and under no circumstances, the people of the said villages in question would be allowed to exercise franchise in the Panchayat election.
The general strike would be imposed in association with various other organizations like UNC, ZC, KIM, SAFNA, CDSU, ZSF, KSO,SANPO and Vaiphei Chiefs Association, the COPTAM General Secretary added.