Newmai News Network Imphal | April 15 The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) now demands the creation of another new district christened as 'Lamka district' to be curved out of Churachandpur district. In its press release issued today, the JAC-AATB said that its demand for the creation of Lamka district is for 'administrative convenience' but added that the demand for a new district “was never its priority.” "While the tribal people are still mourning the death of the tribal martyrs, and with the JAC-AATB continuing to its fight for tribal self-determination, the then Congress Government without consulting any stakeholder created seven new districts within one night which was perceived as a blatant aim to create division among the tribal people,” it stated in the press release. “This was done with the sole intention of enticing certain tribes/communities to withdraw their support from the JAC, and resulted in appeasing those tribes/communities at the cost of the ones who continue to be ardent supporters to the tribal movement", it added. While the new Manipur Government indicating its desire to bring an amicable solution to the current impasse, JAC-AATB said it held a series of consultations with various sections of the tribal society within a span of one week, including one with the general public on March 28, 2017. Based on the discussions and suggestions, a Charter of Demands was prepared which was thoroughly reviewed and approved by the JAC and leaders of the various tribe/community-based organizations who have continued to support the JAC, namely, Mizo People Convention, United Zou Organization, Simte Tribe Council, Tedim Chin Union and Young Paite Association. The same was submitted to the Chief Minister Pu N. Biren Singh on April 2, 2017, the press note claimed. Based on the Chief Minister’s invitation, a delegation comprising of members of the JAC and the aforesaid community-based organizations met with the Chief Minister and his cabinet on April 7, 2017 wherein the three-page Charter of Demands was submitted - Constitutional safeguard for ancestral tribal territories and development of tribal people as well as creation of Lamka District for administrative convenience including; Restoration of the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (MLR&LR) Act, 1960 to its original principal Act status; and Justice for the Tribal Martyrs and the injured including declaration of August 31 as an annual State Holiday on the occasion of Tribal Unity Day. JAC-AATB further claimed in first round of preliminary discussion, the Chief Minister mentioned that with the tripartite talks involving various groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) in progress, the State cannot make any commitment or declaration regarding Sixth Schedule, and pointed out the impracticality of restoring the MLR&LR Act, 1960 to its original status. "However, he gave a positive indication regarding the feasibility of the other points in the Charter of Demands and expressed his desire to meet again on April 10, 2017 to finalize on the Memorandum of Understanding, which will then be signed in the presence of a witness from the Ministry of Home Affairs at Lamka on April 12, 2017," the JAC-AATB added. However, it alleged that on April 10 during the second round of talks, to the utter surprise of the JAC-led delegation, the Manipur Government laid down certain ground rules which negated its earlier positive indications towards the JAC’s demands other than those involving compensation and ex-gratia to the Martyrs’ families and the injured. The Government also mentioned its inability to declare August 31 (Tribal Unity Day) as a general holiday in the State," it also said. According to the JAC-AATB, with the new BJP-led Government in Manipur showing no intention of rolling back the seven new districts hastily-created by the previous Congress Government, "the JAC is in favour of reviewing the district boundaries, and realigning and creating new ones where needed; however, this was never a priority of the JAC. It also maintained that though it is customary practice among the Christian tribals to give an honourable burial to the dead, “until and unless the extreme sense of insecurity among the tribal people fuelled by the passing of the three anti-tribal bills can be mitigated through an amicable and sustainable solution, the burial of the remaining eight Tribal Martyrs is not our priority." According to the JAC-AATB, the three anti-tribal bills are the symptoms while the palpable sense of insecurity among the tribal people is the disease, "and the JAC is focusing on finding a cure for the disease while treating the symptoms at the same time". The JAC-AATB then appealed to all concerns not to engage in rumor mongering and spreading false propaganda in the interest of peace and communal harmony, "and would like to make known to the public that the JAC is still hopeful of arriving at an amicable solution acceptable to the tribal people shortly".
