IMPHAL, Jun 24: The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills will organise a mass mourning cum prayer programme to mark the 300th day of the tribal movement at YPA general headquarters, Hiangtam, Churachandpur at 1 pm on June 26. In a statement, the JAC said that as tribal people from across the State would attend the mourning session, there should be no shutdown or bandh to enable free movement of vehicles on the day. The JAC informed the public that the earlier plan to send a delegation to Delhi comprising of tribal chiefs and family members of the tribal martyrs to coincide with the 300th day of the tribal movement has been deferred.
The JAC said, “June 26, 2016 (Sunday) will mark the 300th day of the tribal movement, our unwavering fight for the protection of our ancestral tribal lands, our rights and our identity from the ‘covetous’ hands of dominant valley-dwelling community who are backed by the ‘communal’ Manipur Government.” The resentment and gash between the hills and valley has become more stark with each passing day that belies the ‘chingtam amatani’ rhetoric of the valley people, a clear indication that the tribal people of Manipur no longer see any safe and promising future under the present Manipur and look forward to a separate destiny for the tribal people, it added.
The JAC further said, “With the mortal remains of our nine tribal martyrs still awaiting an honourable burial, our fight for our rights, and our struggle for self determination is far from over.” The JAC urged all the tribal Churches and fellowships across the globe to organise mourning programme cum mass prayers at their respective Churches/congregations on June 26. The JAC said, “It is our heartfelt plea to all our tribal brothers and sisters across the globe to join us in the prayer on this day as we cry out to the Lord our God to save and heal our ancestral lands.”
