Delhi, February 10 (MExN): The Manipur Tribals’ Forum, Delhi (MTFD) has stated that its discussions with the Central Government are now at a “crucial and delicate” stage.
“While we are serious about all our demands, our negotiations, for the immediate term, also center mainly on how to enable a respectable burial of our nine martyrs by ensuring that the causes they died for are addressed concretely,” an MTFD statement which was made available to the media stated.
MTFD further informed that it is in the middle of a “serious and intimate” consultation with community elders, starting with Delhi, to reach a consensus on their immediate demands which includes claims for constitutional safeguards “that will protect our land and our rights”. The forum added that the consultation “may also be the basis” by which it will attempt to reach “closure” on the martyrs’ burial.
“After one hundred and sixty-three days of tribal unrest, let us be certain without a shred of doubt that the time and circumstances in which we choose to put our martyrs to rest be in the collective interest of all tribals and worthy of their sacrifice for our land, our rights, and our identity,” declared the statement from the Information and Media Wing, MTFD.
Highlighting the present status of their ongoing movement, particularly in Delhi, MTFD stated that its movement has reached a “critical juncture” – progressing from the stage of telling its stories to “negotiating for our demands”.
MTFD stated that it is in the process of pursuing its rightful demands through various channels. On the political front, the forum stated that it has met the President, Home Minister, MoS (Home), Joint Secretary (North-East), and other concerned officials multiple times; “all of whom are now convinced that our grievances are genuine and need to be redressed”. On the legal front, the forum informed that it has met with some of the most renowned legal and constitutional experts who are “ready to take up our issues as and when necessary”.
MTFD also informed that it has been working closely with a number of Members of Parliament, some of whom have already raised the forum’s issues in Parliament which, the forum acknowledged, as having “greatly strengthened” negotiations with the Central Government. We are in the process of reaching out to more and more MPs to apprise them of the latest developments and continue seeking their support, with an eye on the upcoming Parliament session, the forum added.
While acknowledging the need to give a respectable and honourable burial to the nine martyrs, the forum stated that it has always been their sincere endeavour to ensure that the causes that they died for are not in vain.
Highlighting that the Bills, at present, are with the Central Government and is yet to get the Centre’s assent, MTFD stated that one of their immediate demand is for the Central Government to intervene and ensure that a High Level inquiry is conducted on the killing of the nine martyrs and their killers punished as per law.
The forum reminded the Centre that it is vested with special powers to give “directions” to the State of Manipur on any matter affecting the Hill Areas as per Article 371C of the Constitution of India.
The Forum also highlighted the immediate need to place the Hill Areas of Manipur under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, under an empowered model which is powerful enough to guarantee autonomy to protect and promote the interests of all the tribals of Manipur.
Hitting out at the Manipur State Government, the forum stated, “Till date, even though the Manipur Government had owned up to its culpability in the death of the nine martyrs by performing HiamKham, the culprits are yet to be brought to book.” MTFD has initiated the process of filing FIRs on the killing of the martyrs through the Court, the forum informed.
“Our long term political demand for separate administration remains and we are committed to fighting the long fight for the same,” MTFD maintained.
Meanwhile, the forum has informed that its indefinite sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar will continue.
