LAMKA, AUGUST 28 (NNN): The Outer Manipur Tribals' Forum (OMTF) and Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) informed this evening that a 4-day general strike will be called in all the "tribal areas" of Manipur from the midnight of September 1.
The two organisations told Newmai News Network that the strike has been called "as a mark to show our displeasure to the Government of Manipur's intent to introduce the 'Regulation of Non-Local People of Manipur bill-2016' in the coming assembly despite repeated requests from tribal civil organizations not to introduce any new bill until and unless the issue of three Anti Tribal Bills passed by the Manipur assembly on August 31, 2015 is fully resolved and the 9 tribal martyrs see justice and their last rites performed.”
The bandh will end on September 5 midnight. This decision was taken in the joint meeting of OMTF and JAC-AATB on Sunday.
OMTF is a conglomerate of Thadou Inpi, United Naga Council (UNC), Hmar Inpui, Mizo People Convention (MPC), and Zomi Council.
Today's joint meeting of the OMTF and JAC-AATB also discussed the upcoming Tribal Unity Day declaration programme to be held in Churachandpur town in south Manipur on August 31 to mark the completion of one year of the "tribal movement".
With regard to the Tribal Unity Day declaration programme, the meeting entrusted Gaidon Kamei, convenor of OMTF and Dr R. Sanga to finalize the draft proposal of JAC-AATB on or before August 29, 2016.
Regarding the draft memorandum/representation to be submitted to the Governor of Manipur, UNC president Gaidon Kamei, who is also the convenor of OMTF, and Dr. R. Sanga of the Zomi Council (MC) were entrusted to look into the matter and keep it ready before invitation from the Raj Bhavan is received.
The joint meeting also condemned in the strongest term the Government of Tripura for failing to give protection to the "indigenous tribal people" of Tripura. The meeting urged the Government of India to take up appropriate steps at the earliest possible to protect the life and properties of the "indigenous tribal people" of Tripura.
