Newmai News Network Imphal | December 27 The Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) has asserted today that 'separation of all the tribal territories from present Manipur is the only way forward'. In a press release issued to Newmai News Network this evening, the JAC-AATB alleged that "after the abject failure of the O Ibobi-led communal Manipur Government to create division and mistrust among the Naga tribes, its focus has now turned towards the softer target - the Zo people (Chin-Kuki-Zomi/Mizo tribes) of present southern Manipur". "It is beyond doubt that the mortal remains of one of the nine Tribal Martyrs was stolen at the behest of the O. Ibobi-led communal Manipur Government on December 23, 2016 by destroying the door and breaking into the Lamka District Hospital Mortuary; the fact that the Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh himself visited Churachandpur District the very same day to see and confirm for himself the stolen coffin containing the mortal remains of one of the Tribal Martyrs stands testament to his direct involvement in the planning and execution of the entire episode," the JAC-AATB alleged. According to the JAC-AATB, instead of exploring ways and means to bring about an amicable and acceptable solution to the imbroglio that followed the passing of the three anti-tribal bills by the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, 2015, it has become more and more evident that the single-minded focus of the Manipur Government is that of creating discord, mistrust and division among the various tribal communities. The three bills being opposed by the JAC-AATB are the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015; and the Manipur Shops & Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015. "The sudden and arbitrary creation of seven full-fledged revenue districts solely aimed at appeasing one tribe or community while victimizing another is a case in point," it added. Meanwhile, according to the JAC-AATB, contrary to the Manipur Government’s propaganda, with the President of India withholding the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 and the remaining two other bills being sent for review by experts, and the Manipur Government still trying to introduce a new bill in place of the withheld bill, the issue with the 'infamous anti-tribal bills' is far from over. The Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) then sad that "it is now more convinced than ever before that the hastening of the ongoing political dialogues for self-determination of the tribal peoples with the sole aim of ensuring separation of all the tribal territories from present Manipur is the only way forward for the survival of the indigenous tribal peoples in present Manipur".
