Delhi, May 15 (MExN): The Manipur Tribals' Forum, Delhi (MTFD) has expressed unhappiness over what it termed “demeaning and undignified” MoU signed between JACAATB and Government of Manipur on May 10 “that does not honour the tribal martyrs and also not mentioning for the delivery of ‘justice to the martyrs' and honorable political solution for the tribals in Manipur.” Stating that it “sees no reason for the honorable burial of our martyrs in the terms provided in the MoU,” the Forum in a press release has appealed to the Government of Manipur and the Joint Action Committee against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) to rework for inclusion of the same. “… the MTFD could not accept the terms provided in the said MoU and vouch that it will fight until ‘justice is delivered to the tribal martyrs’ and until the Government provide with constitutional safeguards to protect the tribal land and rights,” it asserted. Meanwhile, MTFD reiterated appeal to the Government of Manipur as well as the Union Government to seriously take into consideration the problems faced by the tribals of Manipur “by taking initiative for honorable burial of the martyrs and initiate steps for permanent political solution for the tribals in line with the promise made by Union Home Minister.” It mentioned that the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, in his public address at Churachandpur, Manipur on March 2, 2017 assured honourable burial of the nine tribal youths who were killed in protest against three controversial bills. Meanwhile, it lamented that the Government of Manipur neither invited the MTFD for talks nor the JACAATB consulted MTFD while discussing the terms and conditions of the MoU. “MTFD is not aware under what circumstances the JACAATB is compelled to sign the MoU with the Government of Manipur…”
