IMPHAL, February 9: Registering objection to the ‘submission of willingness’ to proceed with Government project at Haolenphai for International Border Township in Moreh, the Thadou Students’ Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) submitted a memorandum each to Union Home Minister, Minister of State for Home Affairs and State Chief Minister.
The memorandum stated that fact that the issue of attempt to grab Haolenphai tribal land cropped up again after the failed attempt to grab the land in the name of smart city project and at a time when the tribal protest against the passing of the infamous three anti-tribal bills passed by Manipur Assembly on August 31, 2015 is still going on as a result of which dead bodies of nine tribal martyrs still lying in the Churachandpur district hospital morgue unburied and unclaimed by their families is only a salt added to an injury.
It is due to this continuing communal attitude of the State government and its systematic discriminations that the indigenous tribal people of the State increasingly feel politically, culturally, socially and economically disempowered and marginalized, it said.
The memorandum that if the project International Border Township at Haolenphaias claimed by the four signatories is true then the State government should provide detailed information on the project and on the process of land acquisition and whether all guidelines and rules of tribal land acquisition have been complied with.
The ‘submission of willingness’ should be disregarded as the signatories have no authority over the land. Therefore their signatures bear no validity or legitimacy. Thus, the submission stands null and void, it said.
It also demanded the Government of India to take up stern action against the nexus or connections between the State government and the SoO signatory group, Kuki National Organization/Kuki National Army (KNO/KNA), in relation to the ‘submission of willingness’ against the wishes and interests of the tribal community in the area.
TSA-GHQ in the memorandum urged to initiate a high level inquiry, such as by the CBI, into the alleged case of deception, theft, intimidation, or coercion or duress for obtaining signatures in the ‘submission of willingness’.
It reiterated its position and that of the community that neither do they want nor need a city or a new township in and around Haolenphai and that even an inch of the land will not be negotiated for any reason unless it will absolutely benefit the community without a compromise on their land and resource ownership and culture.
Any attempt or process to transfer ownership of tribal land at Haolenphai village to the government or any other party under the guise of any kind of development project will be steadfastly withstood. We want development that we need, but not imposed development that we do not need. What is most needed for our true development is autonomy – at least implementation of 6th schedule in the hill areas, it said.
TSA-GHQ cautioned the authorities concerned against proceeding with acquisition of the tribal land for whatever purpose or else there will be intense agitation with possible public uprising and the authorities concerned should be held accountable for any untoward incident arise thereof.