Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, December 17
The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) today launched a “Save Indigenous Peoples Campaign” here at the Press Club.
The campaign aims to bridge the gap between various communities of Manipur.
Holding public meeting, awareness programmes, panel discussion, camera meeting and interaction with leaders of different political parties and ethnic communities will be part of the campaign, JCILPS convenor in-charge Khomdram Ratan told the media.
“Our main objective is to clear misunderstanding between various groups in the state,” the JCILPS leader said. He said the proposed agitation of JCILPS earlier announced to begin on December 16 had been suspended in view of the upcoming Christmas, final examinations of schools and the appeal from the state government.
JCILPS led a sustained public movement which lasted for nearly three months in demand of ILPS to check the influx of migrants. The stir ended after the Manipur Assembly passed three ILP Bills on August 31 this year.
The ILP movement grew up after a class 12 student and ILP supporter, Sapam Robinhood was killed in police crackdown in Imphal on July 8.
Normal life was completely thrown out of gear due to the IPL stir during which all educational institutes were also forced to close down.
Several protesters were also injured during the agitation which ended only after the government decided to pass the three Bills under intense public pressure.
On December 2, the committee threatened to launch a fresh stir expressing dismay over the Manipur government’s alleged failure to translate into action the crucial agreement inked between the two sides in August this year.
Committee’s convenor in-charge Khomdram Ratan had warned the Manipur government it would resort to a fresh sustained agitation from December 16 in case the points in the agreement were not implemented by December 15.
Ratan regretted that the state government was allegedly still unwilling to implement the important agreement. The JCILPS leader also expressed discontent against the government for its indecisive stand on the fate of three ILP Bills since their passing by the state assembly on August 31 this year
The Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shop and Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 were finally passed in the assembly by a voice vote.
As per the agreement, among others, the government has to constitute a Manipur State Population Commission to assess the problems and issues of demographic imbalance and other related matters so as to take up measures towards social harmony and peace.
To prepare a white paper on population influx by the state government is also one of the important points mentioned in the agreement.
According to the agreement, the government shall also constitute a Manipur State Land Reform Commission to undertake a review of the situation arising out of complexities related to land, resources and population dynamics and advise the government on effective measures on land use policies and help ameliorate inter-community tension and enhance the respect for democracy and diversity in the state.
The agreement further reads the government shall urge the Central government to enact other appropriate Acts and Rules which may be beyond the purview of the State Government for the protection of the people of Manipur.
Associate Professor at Imphal College, S Noren, who was also present at the campaign launching function, expressed concern that ever since the removal of the law regulating influx of migrants into the state in the past, the people of Manipur have been left in a ‘dangerous situation.’
The Professor said that the government needs an Act to safeguard the indigenous people against the illegal inflow of migrants into the state.
Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM) president A Mobi Singh and senior advocate Khaidem Mani Singh were also present at the event.
