Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 29 2010:
The Zomi Human Rights Foundation has strongly condemned assault of CDSU functionaries by some individuals belonging to the majority community at Kangvai area today.
A Foundation release issued by its Information and Publicity Department said apart from manhandling the CDSU functionaries who were enforcing the 12 bandh call, the rowdy elements damaged 4-5 vehicles used by the student leaders.
The rights body also took serious note of alleged 'overlapping census operation' in Sadar Hills, Chandel, Tamenglong and Churachandpur districts with the assertion that these districts had never been under the jurisdiction of the 'valley district administration'.
While highlighting that rights of indigenous people are recognised by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and clearly enshrined in the Indian Constitution, the Foundation alleged that successive Governments of manipur had been ignoring existence and rights of the indigenous peoples.
It also demanded that informed consent of the indigenous people with due respect to tribal people and their lands be obtained and to restore original jurisdiction of the district administration of the hill districts.