IMPHAL, May 17: Fixing 1951 as the base year for detection of outsiders and their deportation is not ‘within reason,’ senior journalist and author Pradip Phanjoubam has stated.
The Imphal Free Press editor told Newmai News Network on Tuesday that the cut-off year has ‘no practical application’ and hence the Manipur government needs to revise it. “This is not acceptable.”
Fixing of 1951 as the base year for identification and deportation of outsiders is one of the key demands of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), a conglomerate of citizens, which has been spearheading the current ILP stir in Manipur.
The seniour journalist said Assam has fixed 1971 as the base year for the same purpose but it has not been able to implement it till date.
“There are still major doubts about the claim that the three ILP related bills hurt the sentiments of the tribal people in the state. I’ve gone through the contents of the bills. Though I’m not a legal expert, I would say that the bills do not impinge upon their interests at all,” Pradip insisted.
But he added that the government needs a fresh look at the fixing of the cut-off year for rectification. The Manipur Assembly passed the three bills on August 31 last year to protect the interests of all indigenous communities in the state.
They were the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015.
Shortly after the passing of the government bills, violence erupted in Churachandpur district killing nine protesters in confrontations with armed security personnel. Large scale arson was also taken place in the violent protests.
The tribal people have demanded that the Manipur government withdraw the ‘anti-tribal’ bills.
Pradip suggested that the Manipur government should try to end the Churachandpur issue concerning the death of nine protesters.
“A judicial inquiry should be conducted into the incident to find out the facts and circumstances leading to the death of the protesters. The involved must be ascertained,” he suggested.
A magisterial inquiry into the incident has been ordered by the Manipur Home Department. A recent report had said the local people and Churachandpur JAC formed against the killing of the nine protesters did not allow the concerned officer to conduct the magisterial inquiry.
The author of The North East Question: Conflicts and Frontiers which recently hit book stands in UK and USA further suggested that judicial experts from outside the state should be allowed to intervene in the matter relating to the bills to evince that they do not hurt the interests of the tribal people.
“There is mistrust here. We need experts from outside to bring about a solution. Creating tension will not bring any solution now,” Pradip said.
He said immediate measures need to be taken to resolve the current political problem emanating from the three bills. “Talks are needed to address the issue.”
Commenting on the issue on getting assent to the three Bills from the President, he hoped that only the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 could get enacted.
While talking to this news agency, Aja daily editor Valley Rose Hungyo claimed that the Manipur government had been favouring one side in passing the three ILP related bills.
She said, “Allowing domination of one group over another is unacceptable. The tribal people do not want the ‘controversial bills. The neighbours should have been consulted while campaigning for implementation of ILP or a similar law.”
Apparently referring to the valley people, Rose said they cannot live without their neighbours. The campaign on ILP implementation is being carried out only in the valley.
The senior journalist said both sides need discussion on the negotiating table for bringing about an amicable solution to the longstanding issue.
“The tribal ministers and MLAs are concerned chiefly with their own personal interests. They’ve shown their weakness as they have failed to act on the tribal people’s pulse,” she accused.
There have been accusations that the tribal lawmakers did not oppose the bills when they got passed in the assembly even after they knew that the bills infringe upon the interests of the tribal people.
“There is enough time for the government to retrospect and rectify all. The government cannot sort out things by claiming that the bills do not hurt the sentiments of the tribals,” Rose said.
She said a clear-cut move of the Manipur government was the need of the hour. “A debate on the bills in the House is needed. “All stakeholders should be taken on board for a final settlement.”
On the fixing of 1951 as the base year for identification and deportation of outsiders, Rose said, “The census record is found nowhere. We do not need the cut-off year.”
However, Rose said the people of Manipur should launch a ‘pure’ ILP movement but she demanded that the present bills should be scrapped.