Madamji,
We, the Confederation of Chiefs’ Associations, Manipur would like to express our happiness to believe that you have decided to visit Manipur with the view to taking stock of the prevailing situations in person for political settlement and peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups within the state of Manipur.
That, the tribal people of Manipur after un-fulfilment of their subsequent demands for self-governance with Constitutional protection have lost their aspirations despite the fact that they are not so much averse to the integrity of Manipur. Nevertheless, the tribals everywhere in Manipur are (deprived of their Constitutional/fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
That, before Manipur was conferred Statehood in 1972 under the North East Re-organisation Act, 1971, the Sixth Autonomous District Councils were introduced haphazardly under the Fifth Schedule instead of Sixth Schedule as much as the Sixth Schedule provisions given to other tribal inhabited areas in the North-East of India. As such, the District Councils introduced in Manipur are completely devoid of Autonomy with Constitutional Protection.
Besides, the fact remains that all the tribals in the North Ease India, the tribals in Manipur, particularly, the Kukis, though small in population, has contributed their mights towards the freedom struggle of the country. They fought the British Imperialism for more than three years (Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919), though they were ultimately over-powered and as a result of which, Kuki Leaders were imprisoned in Sadiya Jail in India and Tawngya Jail in Myanmar. Being undaunted, the Kukis in large scale again joined the Indian National Army (INA) under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for the freedom of the country, for which the freedom fighters were awarded TAMAPATRA after they were released from their respective retention camps.
But, after attainment of India’s Independence, the self-sacrifices and the patriotism of the Kukis have completely been overlooked among the celebrities of freedom fighters of India. In the fitness of things, for that matter, the kukis among equals should have not been deprived of the opportunity to enjoy the fruit of their self-sacrifices.
Therefore, we, the representatives of the Confederation of Chiefs’ Associations, Manipur would once again put forward our demand to you for immediate extension of an Autonomous Administrative Units to the Six Tribal District Councils of Manipur for their self-determination so that the tribals may have the chance to retrieve the loss of their past glory, shed their insecurity in the soil of their motherland and then live peacefully with the majority community of the State as good neighbours and with the rest of the country.
Faithfully yours,
Tongkhothang Kipgen,
President,COCA Manipur.
John Vaiphei,
Vice-president, COCA Manipur
Jangkhohao Haokip
Advisor Advisor,Sahilca (M)
Kailal Gangte
Secretary-finance, COCA Manipur
Kamsei Kipgen,
Executive Member, COCA Manipur
Nehkhothang Haokip,
Secretary General, COCA Manipur