North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) organized a seminar today at North Campus, Delhi University on the issue of creation of Sadar Hills district in Manipur and the crisis which the issue has sparked. The seminar was attended by organizations of different communities of North-East namely MSAD, DAMMS. Individuals from Naga, Meitei, Kuki, Bodo, Khoibu and Kom were also present. It should be known that 7 new districts have been created in Manipur in a recent move by the Manipur Government. In the State of Manipur there have been struggles for formation of new revenue districts. This demand for formation of new districts has also met opposition from certain communities. There has been economic blockade and counter blockade; creating a situation where a meaningful and rational dialogue between concerned communities has become next to impossible. The State in its bureaucratic stye of functioning doesn’t want an evolution of a mechanism wherein consent of all communities of all communities can be taken aboard and a consensus is developed.
NEFIS believes that there should be a mechanism of dialogue and consultations between different communities. The move to create new districts should have been taken with the consent of all communities and the state should have consulted different groups before deciding on the issue. Such an arbitrary move would only escalate the crisis and foster trust-deficit between different communities. It had therefore become urgent to deliberate upon the issue and conclude whether this move would equally answer the concerns of all communities. It was with the intention of seeking the views of all North-Eastern communities on the issue that the seminar was organized. NEFIS stands for a consultative decision-making process which is acceptable to all the concerned communities and calls upon organizations of all communities to take into consideration that their protest-modes are not detrimental to the wellbeing of labouring masses.
Following resolutions were passed at the seminar:
1. The economic blockade and counter-blockade must be lifted to ease the hardship borne by the poor and labouring masses of all communities.
2. The arrested United Naga Council (UNC) President Gaidon Kamei and the UNC Information Secretary Stephen Lamkang from Pheidinga area Imphal West, should be unconditionally released.
3. Though we condemn violence used for any demand, the political prisoners should be released and their demands should be heard.
4. A mechanism wherein concerns of different communities can be taken and no administrative measure should be taken without taking consideration the concerns of different communities, should be developed.
5. Administrative measures which will create administrative convenience for the common masses should be taken. But no such measure should overlook the legitimate concerns of any particular community.
Chinglen Khumukcham,
Convener,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
Contact: 7838983871.
