IMPHAL, December 12: The first North East Peoples’ Parliament (NIPP 2015) organized by Coalition for Indigenous’ Rights Campaign, Manipur, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha and Assam Meitei Apunba Lup held at Kangshang, Khumanlampak Sport Complex concluded today with its sixth and the seventh sessions conducted today.
A working committee representing all the participating communities was formed consisting of 18 members namely Dr John Pulamte, G H Newmeh, Malswam Chothe, Tapor Taboh, Prafulla Hafila, Nikunja Patir, Ajit Moran, R T Akhel Aimol, Adibo Newmei, Rana Prasad Deori, Ramsing Kathar, S Michael Kom, Sunanta Jamatia, Sanjoy Chetia, W Saratchandra, Matiur Rahman, Somorendra Thokchom and Erwin Syiem Sutnga.
In the sixth session Prof W Nabakumar, Dept. of Anthropology, Manipur University chaired as the speaker with IFP reporter Grace Jajo as the key mover on the agenda ‘Fundamental Rights: Culture, Education and Language’.
Altogether 14 delegates spoke during the session on the myriad of problems ranging from existential crisis to reduction as lesser citizens in their own homeland and the pathetic conditions of education system and issues of assimilation among some smaller communities.
The seventh session was chaired by Prof Ak Bimol, JNU, as the speaker with Dr Sapam Dilip, Lecturer L.M.S Law College, as the key mover on the agenda ‘Fundamental Rights: Political & Economy’.
It was followed by a session on consolidating recommendations of the last three days’ seven sessions on Challenges and Survival of each Tribes, Human Rights and Human Security: AFSPA 1958, Economy and Development: Look East Policy & Foreign Direct Investment, Population influx & Identity crisis, Fundamental Rights: Culture, Education and Language and Fundamental Rights: Political & Economy.
Delegates from Bodo, Jayantia, Tripuri, Reang (Bru), Deori, Karbi, Khasi, Moran, Kom, Aimol, Vaiphei, Leiangmai, Thadou, Kom, Kabui, Chothe, Kharam, Hmar, Khoibu, Purum Zeme, Chiru, Meitei Pangal, Paite, Koireng, Meitei and other indigenous tribes from North East India attended the Parliament.
The first North East Indigenous Peoples’ Parliament is organized to open a new chapter in the struggle of the indigenous peoples of Northeast India for their rights, dignity and identity as a collective, given the ineffectiveness and failure of isolated Ethno-exclusive movements.