Imphal, May 20: While welcoming all constructive criticism on its activities and principles, the UNIDEP Campaign Committee has clarified that UNIDEP Campaign is the common platform for all the people of Manipur to criticise, self-criticise and to deliberate on all contradictions existing amongst the people in a constructive manner.

A statement issued by the UNIDEP Sub-Committee (Publicity and Propaganda) Co-ordinator NC Modhuchandra reminded that when the threat to the unity and integrity of the State became more pronounced in 1997, the people of Manipur grasped the gravity of the situation not only because territorial integrity of the State was at stake but also because it brought about serious contradiction amongst the people due to communal tendencies.

Saying that there are two kinds of contradiction �principle antagonistic contradiction and simple contradiction, UNIDEP elaborated that contradiction between the insurgents and the Government of India over the demand for sovereignty of Manipur belongs to the former category while the contradictions prevailing among the people belong to the latter.

In the effort to restore unity among the people of Manipur, one should focus on common geographical unity, common historical background and common interest.

More concentration on common interest in comparison to the other two unifying factors will be more pragmatic and successful in restoring unity and nurturing a common political aspiration.

It is quite obvious fact that the common interest of the State lies in development of transport and communication infrastructure, provision of health care facilities in every part of the State, promotion of horticulture in hill districts, extension of education facilities in all the areas, learning and understanding dialects/languages of all the ethnic groups, promotion of cultures, unique to each of the ethnic groups etc, asserted UNIDEP.

The Meira Paibis of the State were able to fight with the Govt and security forces in defence of human rights because they were united and presented a powerful force.

But today the Meira Paibis have been overburdened with the added responsibility of combating drug abuse and alcoholism, rued UNIDEP.

The twin responsibility of defending human rights and combating drug abuse/ alcoholism needs to be separated and serialised considering the degree of urgency each agenda demands.

Stating that UNIDEP does not ask for suspension of the anti-liquor drive, it clarified that UNIDEP only suggested whether it would not be better to take up agenda of common interest first.

Reiterating that the existing contradiction among Manipuri Nagas, Manipuri Kukis, Manipuri Pangals and Manipuri Meiteis is not antagonistic contradiction, it maintained that there should be room for constructive criticism so that each one can rectify their mistakes and remove misplaced concepts.

The AMUCO, a constituent of the UNIDEP Organising Committee is well aware of historical sensibility and historical necessity and this has been proven beyond any body's doubt by its activities and responsibilities it shouldered till date, asserted Modhuchandra.

AMUCO sees no point to accept massive abuse and sale of drugs and liquor, he stated while reminding that campaigns to check drug abuse and alcoholism is not a new experience to AMUCO and other like minded civil organisations.

It also reminded of the people's movement launched by AMUCO in 2002 when the State Government attempted to lift prohibition by formulating the Manipur Liquor Prohibition (Amendment) Act 2002.It also organised a seminar on "Lifting of Prohibition and Economic Crisis" on October 11 and 12 of the same year at GM hall.

The evil design of the State Government to allow open sale of IMFLs was also defeated by the people's movement, Modhuchandra recalled.

Informing that AMUCO views the problem of drug abuse in the context of the overall socio-political and economic condition of the State, it asserted that remedy and treatment for the same problem should be sought in the same larger environment.

The problem of drug abuse is only a symptom of the ailing socio-political and economic environment of the State.

As such the remedy for the problem should be sought keeping in view of the prevailing socio-political and economic environment.

Had the "Demand and Supply Reduction Theory" been able to implement in reality, there would not have been any problem of drug abuse in any State of the world.

It is in this context, that AMUCO put its faith on formulating alternative policies and programmes so as to check the menace of drug abuse in future after a serious deliberation on the issue with academicians, intellectuals and social scientists.

Noting that drug abuse is not responsible for all crimes, it asserted that crimes result from multiple root causes and myriad sources.

Lack of employment avenues, the ever increasing population of educated youths, the worsening condition of poorer and weaker sections of the society are some of the root causes responsible for the alarming rise in crime rate as well as for drug abuse, AMUCO explained.

At such a juncture, it is essential for all to understand the existing sorry state of the society as well as the cases of human rights violation which have become a daily affair and the misery being endured by the people so that all the people can move in the right direction with a firm resolution to resolve all these problems for good.

"Hence, it's time for all of us to understand the existing socio-political context and the historical necessity and to re-prioritise our agenda", concluded the UNIDEP co-ordinator.

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