Newmai News Network IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 7 The Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) has made a five-point declaration pertaining to the forthcoming assembly election of Manipur. One of the points said that "it is the duty of all right thinking tribal voters to refrain from casting their votes in favour of the boycotted tribal MLAs who still choose to turn a blind eye to the cries and sentiments of their tribal electorates even after more than one whole year of unrelenting protests". This point came at the backdrop of the September 12, 2015 declaration prompted by the "absence of any intimation or communication to the tribal apex bodies, ATSUM, or the JAC-AATB from any of the tribal MLAs regarding their resignation." The JAC-AATB, then had, unanimously resolved to declare public boycott, till further notice, on all the sitting tribal MLAs who "refused to feel the pulse of the tribal populace and declined to resign in spite of the mounting pressure from the general public to do so. The tribal MLAs includes D. Korungthang of Tengnoupal assembly constituency; Janghemlung Panmei of Tamenglong; Victor Keishing of Phungyar, Gaikhanngam of Nungba; M.K. Preshaw of Chingai; Dr. Chaltonlien of Tipaimukh; Yamthong Haokip of Saikul (ST) ; Vungzagin Valte of 56 Thanlon (ST); Francis Ngajokpa of 49 Tadubi; T. Manga Vaiphei of Henglep; Nemcha Kipgen of Kangpokpi; Phungzathang Tonsing of Churachandpur; Ngamthang Haokip of 51 Saitu (ST); T.N. Haokip - 59 Saikot (ST); Z. Kikhonbou Newmai of Tamei and Ginsuanhau Singngat assembly constituency. The other point of declaration of the JAC-AATB is that "no individual, group or organization including underground groups shall engage in any form of violence, unlawful activities, corrupt practices or intimidating tactics that goes against the spirit of the norms laid down by the Election Commission of India to canvass votes in the upcoming State Assembly Elections as per the wishes of the general public. The JAC-AATB also declared that any individual, group or organization engaging in such undesirable activities shall be prepared to face the collective ire of the public, and they shall also be held responsible for any untoward incident arising from such activities. "The responsibility of ensuring a free and fair election lies with each one of us; it is the duty of each and every tribal individual to ensure a free and fair election wherein every single tribal voter, using his or her conscience and 'untampered' reasoning, and placing the tribal cause above his or her own personal or organizational desires and needs, votes to safeguard tribal land, rights and identity," it further declared. "The duty of publicizing the declaration rests with all tribal organizations including philanthropic organizations, churches, student bodies; and it is their obligation to ensure the implementation of the Declaration within their respective communities and areas of jurisdiction," one point of declaration said. The JACAATB then appealed to all right thinking individuals, groups and organizations to support the declaration and stand firm on the tribal cause, the fight for tribal self-determination which is much above that of mere electoral politics. The JAC-AATB then said that on August 30, 2015, the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) made an appeal to the Hill Areas Committee that comprised of all the tribal MLAs to abstain from the Special Session of the Manipur State Legislative Assembly wherein the three anti-tribal bills, namely, the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015; the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 were intended to be passed. However, the appeal went unheeded. On September 1, 2015, the joint meeting of tribal apex bodies – Kuki Inpi, Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council – had unanimously given an ultimatum to the Hill Areas Committee to convene a meeting at the earliest and take appropriate steps to either repeal the bills or INSERT IGNORE exclusion clause in the bills within 10 days. However, no response in any form was received from the Hill Areas Committee. On September 3, 2015, ATSUM declared a ban on entry of all tribal MLAs in the tribal areas until they resign in protest against the three anti-tribal bills. On September 6, 2015, ATSUM held a joint meeting at DSS, Imphal with the Hill Areas Committee. The 11 tribal MLAs who attended the joint meeting were requested to resign on moral grounds. On September 7, 2015, the emergency meeting of the Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) unanimously resolved to support the above 10-day ultimatum given by the tribal apex bodies and agreed to impose public boycott on all the tribal MLAs/members of the Hill Areas Committee if no desirable response is received from the Hill Areas Committee by midnight of September 10, 2015, or if they do not tender their resignation. No response of any kind was received from the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), the JAC-AATB said. According to the JAC-AATB, on July 18, 2016, the joint meeting of the Outer Manipur Tribals’ Forum – a conglomerate of Hmar Inpui, Thadou Inpi Manipur, Mizo People Convention, United Naga Council and Zomi Council – and the JACAATB resolved to re-affirm the boycott of all tribal MLAs and the lone tribal MP of Manipur, and uphold the ban on their entry or organizing activities in the tribal areas of Manipur. The joint meeting also resolved to brand any individual or organization who aid, cooperate or stand with the boycotted tribal MLAs as anti-tribal, and shall be at their own risk. It also resolved to boycott the Congress party in all tribal areas of Manipur, and the "Party shall not be allowed to have any activities in all tribal areas and their office will be locked down with immediate effect". Any political party, whether national or regional, who works against the interest of the tribal peoples will meet the same fate as that of the Congress party, another resolution said.
