IMPHAL, Apr 12 : The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) has decided to send its representatives to New Delhi at the earliest to campaign for the tribal people’s cause.
The JAC has also decided to observe the 600th Day of the Movement on April 22, 2017.
These decisions were taken in a joint meeting to discuss the ongoing tribal movement.
Representatives of Mizo People Convention, United Zou Organisation, Simte Tribe Council, Tedim Chin Union and Young Paite Association, which are part of the JAC, attended the meeting held at the Young Paite Association GHQ office, Hiangtam Lamka, Churachandpur district.
The joint meeting resolved to expand the JAC with each tribe-based organization sending in more representatives; and the dialogue with the State Government having been adjourned for now, the meeting also agreed to send a delegation to New Delhi at the earliest, a statement of the JAC said.
The joint meeting resolved to observe the 600th Day of the Movement on April 22, 2017. The JAC and the tribe-based organisations also appealed to the public to ceaselessly pray to the Almighty for an early solution that is sustainable and acceptable to the tribal people.
On April 10, the second round of talk between the JAC and Manipur Government ended without any major breakthrough.
Some of the demands of the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills are “Constitutional safeguard of the tribal territory, restoration of the MLR and LR Act of 1960 to its original status and justice for the martyrs and injured”.
On August 31, 2015, the Manipur Assembly passed three Bills which became contentious since then. The tribal people have termed the Bills ‘anti-tribal.” Nine protesters were killed and many injured when violence broke out in Churachandpur district after the three Bills were passed.
Of the nine bodies, eight are still lying unclaimed in the Churachandpur district hospital mortuary as the deadlock has persisted including burial of the bodies.
Source: The Sangai Express
