IMPHAL, July 3: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) celebrated its 15th Foundation Day at its premises with president of IPSA Kh Chingkhei; president of UPF O Bikramjit; vice- president of NIPCO M Medun Maring; president of AMKIL Ph Shakhi Leima; president of PANDAM Yumnamcha Dilipkumar; president of ACOAM-Lup Ksh Somendro and secretary of KANGLAMEI Yumnam ongbi Kamalini Leima as presidium members.
Speaking on the occasion, president of UCM Elangbam Johnson said that the committee was founded 15 years back with the firm objective of protecting the territorial integrity of the state from any potential threat.
He said that there is still an imminent threat to the territorial integrity which has also arisen the need for unity amongst the people belonging to different communities of the State.
The stand-off between Mao and people of Nagaland is not a new issue. It all started in 1985 when some people of the State while trying to enter their land at Mao, they were rounded up by Nagaland people and later handed over to Nagaland Police, he said.
Later in 2000, Zesima people of Nagaland constructed a guest house at Mao Kozarii area, which was destroyed by Mao people triggering a stand-off between them, he narrated.
Claiming that Mao people were restricted to enter Nagaland by its people following the demolition of the guest house, he pointed out that the Mao issue continues to haunt due to the failure of the government of that time to resolve the impasse over the land dispute for once and forever.
He recalled that Tenimiya People`™s Organization (TPO) under an umbrella organization had tried to resolve the issue in accordance to Naga customary law, prompting the Mao people to call off their agitation believing that an amicable solution to the issue will be brought.
However, the organization failed to do so following which legal help was sought in 2013 to resolve the long standing skirmish over land dispute, he continued.
The relevant documents shown by the Mao people in support of their claim also went in vain, he added.
Referring to the recent statement made by Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang that the land encroachment at Dzuko Valley has to be solved in accordance to Naga customary law not by Government of Manipur, he termed the statement of the CM as an attempt to disintegrate Manipur
Some parts of Mao were included in the formation of the Nagaland State in 1963, he said, contending that the parts were not included in the territorial boundary of Manipur when the State attained statehood in 1972.
Urging the State government to set up a police outpost in area 15 km from the boundary shared by Manipur and Nagaland to look after encroachment of land belonging to the state of Manipur, he said that the information provided in Class IX and X textbooks prescribed by NBSE that the Siroy Lily flower is grown in parts of Nagaland was unfortunate.