Nine Tribals Killed in Lamka Protest Against 2015 Manipur Bills

IN August 2015, the tribal people of Lamka–Churachandpur in Manipur rose in protest against three bills passed by the Manipur State Assembly: the Protection of Manipur People Bill, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill. While the government claimed the bills aimed to protect indigenous people from unchecked migration, the tribal communities—especially the Zomi, Kuki, and Naga—strongly opposed them, fearing they would undermine their land rights, cultural identity, and constitutional protections. The bills were widely seen as favouring the valley population and violating the rights of the hill tribes, who already had a long history of political and administrative neglect.

The peaceful protests soon turned violent in Churachandpur town after the bills were passed on 31 August 2015. Several government buildings were set on fire, and in the clashes that followed, nine tribal youths lost their lives.

Here are some of the photographs gathered from different sources.

By:-

K H A L V O N T A W I

--- Voice of the Voiceless ---

Candlelight vigil observes in memory of departed souls

NEW DELHI, SEPT 4, 2015: In memory of the departed souls, the Manipur Tribals Forum Delhi held a candlelight vigil and condolence meeting was held in JNU on Thursday evening. Hundreds of tribal students, social activists and  research scholars pay tributes to the departed souls.

On the ongoing grave crisis gripping the tribal areas of Manipur, the Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi stated that on August 31, 2015, the Manipur Assembly passed three bills following sustained protests in the Manipur valley districts demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system for the State. 

The three bills, taken together, will directly undermine the existing safeguards for the tribal ‘hill areas’ regarding land-ownership and population influx as the primary threat for the tribal people comes not from outside the state but the valley Meitei people itself. The tribal people have made their opposition to the Meitei demands clear. But, the tribal people were never consulted by the ‘Joint Committee’ which have been spearheading the demands, nor the Manipur Government which accepts them. The tribal MLAs in the Assembly, fearing for their lives, dare not oppose the Bills when the Bills were introduced and passed in the Assembly.

The Hill Areas Committee (HAC), comprising of all tribal MLAs, which was set up under Article 371C of the Constitution to protect tribal interests and whose concurrence is mandatory for all legislation affecting tribal areas, was summarily brushed aside. 

In response, some tribal bodies organized protests which soon went out of control. Government sent in the so-called Manipur Police Commandos, who are well known for their communal antipathy towards the tribals. More than eight tribal people have died, and more than 50 injured.

The Forum condemn the highhanded and deeply biased manner in which the Manipur Government responded to the protests. While the Manipur police uses rubber bullets for the valley protesters, live bullets were freely used for tribal protesters. Of course, this is not the first time such visible partiality is exhibited by the state police commandos.  Ukhrul (2014), Mao Gate in Senapati District (2010) and Moreh (2007), among others, have all experienced such partiality in the past and protested against it. We demand that the State Police Commandos be immediately withdrawn from tribal areas and central forces deployed, if need be, the statement added.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL

(The Mizoram Post | Manipur Chronicle | Zogam Today)

Manipur Tribals Forum Delhi request PM for immediate intervention

To,                                                                                                                    New Delhi, Dated 2^nd September, 2015

The Hon’ble Prime Minister,                                  

Government of India

  

Subject:   Request for immediate intervention on the atrocities perpetrated on the tribal people in Manipur.

                                                

Hon’ble Sir,

 

The Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi like to bring the following facts for your kind perusal and necessary action.

 

1.  That, on 31 August, 2015, the Manipur Assembly passed three bills following sustained protests in the Manipur valley districts demanding the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system for the State. The three bills, taken together, will directly undermine the existing safeguards for the tribal ‘hill areas’ regarding land-ownership and population influx as the primary threat for the tribal people comes not from outside the state but the valley Meitei people itself. The tribal people have made their opposition to the Meitei demands clear. But, the tribal people were never consulted by the ‘Joint Committee’ which have been spearheading the demands, nor the Manipur Government which accepts them. The tribal MLAs in the Assembly, fearing for their lives, dare not oppose the Bills when the Bills were introduced and passed in the Assembly.

 

2. That, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), comprising of all tribal MLAs, which was set up under Article 371C of the Constitution to protect tribal interests and whose concurrence is mandatory for all legislation affecting tribal areas, was summarily brushed aside.

 

3. That, this instance has sparked off a strong opposition from all the tribal people of Manipur across the state. It flared up emotion into violent reaction against their representative tribal MLAs. The state government, instead of explaining the contents of the amendment and pacifying the agitators used its naked forces to suppress the tribals causing widespread atrocities, untold miseries, and uncontrolled human rights violation across the hills.

 

4. That, the brutal reaction of the state forces against the peaceful mass agitation has caused the loss of precious lives of eight people and several number of the agitators were left with serious injury. In a clear case of daylight repression the state forces used real bullets to disperse the protesters. Your Honour might have seen various reports in the national media and social media networks testifying to the brutality of the state forces in dealing with the situation.

 

5. That, the incident of passing the Bill and its brutal suppression of the tribal agitators, State Government has shown its real intention to grab the lands of the tribal people which has been so far protected by the Constitution of India. It also shows a clear case of the present Ibobi government’s incompetency to govern the state.

 

We, the Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi, therefore demand from the Government of India:

i.                     To immediately impose President’s Rule in Manipur

ii.                   To punish those state security forces involved in the brutal killing of the agitators.

iii.                 To immediately withdraw the Manipur Police commandos from all tribal areas and if need be, deploy central forces.

iv.                 Restoration of all villages transferred to valley district to their original hill districts.

v.                   To expeditiously act on the demands for ‘separate administration’ for the tribal areas of Manipur. This is a proof, if any more are needed, that the hill tribals and the plain Meiteis cannot live together under one administration.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

On behalf of the Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi

Tribal students call emergency meeting in Delhi

NEW DELHI/CCPUR, SEPT 01, 2015: The incident which broke out in Churachandpur on August 31 led to emergency meeting of Delhi-based tribal students’ organization of Manipur in JNU late night on August 31. Leaders and members of the Kuki Students Organisation, Zomi Students Federation and Hmar Students Association attended the meeting. The meeting resolved to hold a peace rally in New Delhi on September 2.

The protestors who agitated over the passing of three Bills – 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 –  set a blazed the houses of all MLAs from the district.

During the agitation, police shot dead three persons, source said. The deceased have been identified as Thangzalian (20) s/o Vungching of Hiangtam Lamk, H. Paulianmang (23) S/o (L) H. Thianlal of Dorcas Veng and Pausuanlian (19) s/o Zenkhanching of New Lamka Vengnuam.

House of Thangso Baite, MP (Outer), Phungzathang Tonsing, Health Minister, TN Haokip MLA/Saikot AC, Chaltonlien Amos,  MLA/Tipaimukh, Vungzagin Valte, MLA/Thanlon, Manga Vaiphei, MLA/ Henglep, and GS Haopu, MLA/Singngat were burnt down by the angry mob on the night August 31.

KNO, ZRO, HPC (D), Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Churachandpur, Hmar Inpui, Mizo People Council, Gangte Tribe Union, Hmar Youth Association, Kuki Khanglai Lompi, Zomi Youth Association, Young Mizo Association, KSO Churachandpur, Hmar Student Association, YMA, CoPTAM, KSDC held an emergency meeting in Lamka on September 1.

“We have been targeted with neglect and discrimination. All funds meant for our development have either been diverted or misappropriated by the Meitei majority and their clones,” said PS Haokip, Presdient, Kuki National Organisation in his speech.

He added, “For all these years, we have suffered injustice and now it has become intolerable. Not satisfied with depriving us of our developmental rights, they are now planning to snatch our land by calling us foreigners”.

“They arbitrarily have passed a bill which will uproot those of us whose villages were not in their records since 1951. I am telling them today, and I want us to tell them that we don't need them to record that we lived in our lands much before their government intruded onto our lands,” stated PS Haokip.

So far seven persons have been killed by the police, sources confirmed. Still tension grips in Churachandpur, after the tribals protested the passing of three bills which have impinged the rights of the tribal people. Delhi-based tribal students of Manipur scheduled to have another round of meeting on Tuesday evening.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL

Joint Press Communiqué: Tribal Student Bodies Call Bandh Against Manipur Bills

30th August, 2015

The All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (Both ATSUM Group), All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) & Kuki Students’ Organisation KSO GHQs calls 12 hour bandh in all the hills district of Manipur from 6: a.m. to 6 p.m. on 31st August resentment against the three bills which were introduced in the special session of the Manipur Assembly on 28th August 2015 in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

1. The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015

2. The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015

3. The Manipur Shop and Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015

In short, the above bills has overlapping of Article 371C and Manipur Hill People Administration Regulation Act 1947. Mention may be made here that, the tribal organisations has made known to the Government of Manipur on many occasion regarding our stands. The tribal people will not remain a silent spectator where the rights of the tribal are threatened upon by this way of systematic infringements. If any untoward incident happens the Government of Manipur and Hills Area Committee shall be held responsible.

(MUAN TOMBING)
President, ATSUM

(JOSEPH R. HMAR)
Acting President, ATSUM

(ALEXANDER HUTEN)
Secretary, ANSAM

(SEIBOI HAOKIP)
Secretary, KSO GHQs

John Rotluangliana seeks central assistance for development of tourism in Mizoram

NEW DELHI, AUG 28, 2015: The Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Culture (Independent Charge) and Civil Aviation, Dr Mahesh Sharma held a meeting with the Tourism Minister of Mizoram Mr John Rotluangliana in New Delhi on Friday. The Tourism Minister of Mizoram met the Union Tourism Minister to seek central assistance for development of tourism in the state of Mizoram.

Dr Mahesh Sharma informed that Mizoram is included in the mega project of the North East Circuit under the scheme of Swadesh Darshan. Mizoram has submitted proposals for two tourism projects – integrated development of Eco Tourism, Adventure Sports and Wellness at Serlui B Lake surroundings, and integrated development of Eco Tourism at Thanzawal under the Swadesh Darshan scheme of Ministry of Tourism.

Rotluangliana requested Dr Sharma to release some outstanding funds for the projects started under the scheme of PIDDC. 

Dr Sharma assured that the demands of the state government will be examined and all possible assistance will be extended to help the state of Mizoram for development of tourism.

~ The Mizoram Post | Manipur Chronicle | Zogam Today

PM inaugurates Birth Centenary Celebrations of Rani Gaidinliu

THE Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India must remember the glorious heritage of the freedom struggle, and ensure that the legacy of the struggles and achievements of our freedom fighters is passed on to succeeding generations.

Speaking after the launch of a commemorative coin to mark the inauguration of the birth centenary celebrations of Rani Gaidinliu in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 24 August 2015, the Prime Minister said it is our misfortune that people such as Rani Gaidinliu have either not been remembered adequately, or have been deliberately forgotten.

 

The Prime Minister recalled Rani Gaidinliu’s contribution to India’s freedom struggle. Referring to her as “Rani-Maa,” he said that she believed that her struggle for the Naga people against the British, was also a struggle for India’s unity and integrity. The Prime Minister also credited Rani Gaidinliu with spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi in the North-East.

 

He regretted that she could not enter her village for many years after independence. He said India has not been made by kings or rulers, but by its people.

 

The Prime Minister said Rani-Maa’s thoughts on living in harmony with nature could provide an answer to the problem of climate change being faced by the world today.

 

The Prime Minister spoke of his Government’s initiatives for the development of the North-East. He reiterated that the progress of the north-east will provide a big boost to the development of the entire nation. He said the Land Boundary Agreement signed recently with Bangladesh would help improve connectivity of the region with the rest of the country. Referring to the recently signed Naga Peace Accord, the Prime Minister said it was due to the efforts of successive governments, that such an agreement could be reached.

 

The Governor of Nagaland Mr PB Acharya, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Mr T R Zeliang, the Chief Minister of Manipur Mr O Ibobi Singh, and Union Ministers Mr Rajnath Singh, Mr Arun Jaitley, Dr Mahesh Sharma, and Dr Jitendra Singh were present.

 

***

Brief History:

Rani Gaidinliu

 [1915-1993]

 

“We are a free people, the white men should not rule over us, we will not pay house tax to the Government, we will not obey their unjust laws like forced labour and compulsory porter subscription,”

 – Rani Gaidinliu.

 

RANI Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who led a revolt against British colonial rule in India. She was born on 26 January 1915 at Nungkao, Rongmei village in Manipur. Ranima, as she was known with respect and affection, had humble beginning. At the age of 13 she came under the influence of Haipou Jadonang, the leader who launched a religious movement that sought to reform the Zeliangrong Naga communities. The movement grew into a political struggle to uproot British colonialism from Manipur and the nearby Naga-inhabited areas. Within the Heraka cult Rani Gaidinliu came to be regarded as the human form of the Goddess Cherachamdinliu.

By the late 1920s, British officials began to view the political underpinnings of the movement with deep suspicion as they saw it as undermining their authority. After the execution of Jadonang in 1931, Rani Gaidinliu took up the leadership of the movement for independence. She was arrested in 1932 by the British authorities. She became a political prisoner but at the same time had emerged a veteran leader of the resistance movement.

Rani Gaidinliu identified her people’s struggle with the wider Indian freedom struggle. For her, the Naga people’s journey to freedom was part of India’s wider movement for freedom. She also spread the message of Gandhiji in Manipur region.

During long years of incarceration Ranima had become popular and the issue of her imprisonment was raised in the British House of Commons. She was released from jail after 14 years when India won independence in 1947. She remained true to her convictions and continued to work for the protection of traditional Naga customs, beliefs and traditions within the Union of India. She withstood serious threats from armed insurgents which forced her to go underground in 1960. Her adversaries could not weaken her resolve. She was committed to her cause with little care for personal safety. She came overground on 16 January 1966. She was welcomed by the people of Zeliangrong.

Leaders of various political parties at the national level had great regard for her work and her contribution to the common good. Her visits even to remote areas became legendary. Men and women, young and old, gathered simply to have a glimpse of her. She showed how it was possible to have pride in village customs and traditions and in Naga culture and at the same time to be true to India. She was the State President of All India Freedom Fighters’ Association (Nagaland), Founder and President of Zeliangrong People’s Convention and Patron of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Parishad till her death.

Rani Gaidinliu was also associated with organizations such as Kalyan Ashram, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Vidya Bharati. She interacted with many prominent leaders. She met M S Golwalkar of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Guwahati in the early seventies. Bala Saheb Deshpande of Kalyan Ashram met her at Kohima in 1978. She also toured the country extensively during her lifetime. In January 1979 she visited Varanasi and from there went to Allahabad to attend the 2^nd World Hindu Conference organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. She also visited the Sangam and took a dip in the Ganga.

Ranima passed away on 17^th February, 1993. She left behind a vibrant legacy and instilled in the Zeliangrong people pride in traditional practices. Her life of struggle and her integrity marked her out as a figure we should all learn from and who can still inspire positive values in public life.

Rani Gaindinliu became a legend in her own lifetime.

 

Honours for Rani Gaidinliu

Freedom Fighter Tamrapatra, 1972; Padma Bushan, 1982; Vivekananda Sewa Samman, 1983; Birsa Munda Award, 1996; and Postal Stamp, 1996.

Government of India instituted Stree Shakti Puruskar in honour o five eminent women in Indian history which included Rani Gaidinliu, 2000. The Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. Launched an in-shore patrol vessel named ‘Rani Gaidinliu’ for the Indian Coastal Guard at Visakhapatnam, 6 November 2010.

Courtesy: Ministry of Culture, Govt of India & PIB