HMAR STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (HSA), JT. HQRS., AIZAWL
&
SIAMSINPAWLPI (SSPP), HEADQUARTER, AIZAWL, MIZORAM
JOINT DECLARATION
A joint meeting of the Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), Jt. Headquarters, Aizawl and Siamsinpawlpi (SSPP), Headquarters, Aizawl, Mizoram was held on 4th September in Aizawl over the passage of three bills by the government of Manipur recently and the outbreak of spontaneous mass agitation in hills areas of Manipur thereafter. The joint meeting which was convened and presided over by K. Lalramtana, President, HSA hereby unanimously passed (adopted) the following resolutions.
1. The joint meeting strongly crticised and blamed the government of Manipur for the passage (passing) of what may be termed as ánti –tribal bills’ in the state assembly which will infringe on the long existing rights of the indigenous tribal people in Hill districts of Manipur. It objected and strongly disagree with three bills viz. 1)The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015, 2) The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and 3) The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 passed by the government on 31st August, 2015 against the interest of the indigenous tribal. The meeting observed that ‘The Land Revenues and Land Reforms (7th Amendment) Bill, 2015’ which set 1951 as the base year to identify the indigenous people was an attempt to grab the ancestral lands of the indigenous tribal people by the government and a deprivation of the rights enjoyed by them from time immemorial.
2. The Joint meeting condemns the suppressive or oppressive measure adopted by the government of Manipur and the excess (brutality) of Manipur police/commando to control the agitating mob which led to the killing of 8 innocent tribal civilians in police firing during violence which erupted in the Churachandpur district of Manipur since 31st August following the passage of anti-tribal bills by the state assembly.
3. While blaming the step motherly treatment by Manipur government against the tribal people and other minorities in Manipur and the highhandedness of the state government in dealing with the protestors, the joint meeting urged the state government to repeal or review all the bills and demands punitive action against those security personnel involved in firing. It further seeks the central intervention to probe into the killing of 8 civilians and social upheaval in hills districts of Manipur.
4. The joint meeting expressed profound grief for the lost of innocent lives and injury suffered by protesters during agitation. It condoles the death of 8 civilians including a 10-year old boy who had been killed in police firing and accident during the state government sponsored violence erupted in the wake of the anti-tribal bills agitation.
5. Seeing the insecurity and vulnerability of the tribal under Manipur government, the joint meeting extends fullest support to the movement or protest launched by the tribal groups to protect their ancestral lands and the JAC’s demand for the creation of ‘separate administration’ for the protection of the indigenous tribal people of Manipur.
Sd/-
K. Lalramtana
President, HSA, Headquarter, Aizawl, Mizoram
Sd/-
Sanghminga
President, Siamsinpawlpi (SSPP), Headquarter, Aizawl, Mizoram
Sd/-
Henry L Khojol
Secretary, HSA, Headquarter, Aizawl, Mizoram
Sd/-
Chhuantea
Secretary, Siamsinpawlpi (SSPP), Headquarter, Aizawl, Mizoram
