Imphal, Aug 30 UNA : While the sixth round of tripartite talks between the United Naga Council (UNC), the Union government and the government of
Manipur slated in New Delhi, Hill People Forum (HPF), a recently formed tribal body ruled out possibilities of separate administrative units for Nagas or Kukis.
(HPF-M) today convened a political awareness campaign at Rengkai community hall in Churachandpur district.
Speakers on the occasions spoke in dept about the possible outcome of the trilateral talk as well as the demand of the UNC over the proposed Naga inhabited area.
A speaker on the occasion K Guite blamed the British regime who had ruled the state for over half a century, for all the present day chaos and uncertainty. He said the UNC’s proposed map could not be accepted by the Kuki people as many of the area still belongs to the Kuki and other tribes. He also said the demand for a separate Kuki state is not viable as the demand was motivated by SoO signatories.
Chairman of Zomi Council LB Sona who had been invited on the occasion said that the ZC leadership had on many occasion urged the government for granting of more autonomy to the hills people. He said that the demands cannot be pressed effectively as the hill people do not have a common platform.
‘’ If we at the hills are united the Govt is ready to talk to us and for this the need of the hour is a common platform”, Sona said.
Dr john Pulamte said, ‘’ it’s always not possible to have a common route for the diverse community but the aim is the same in the hills which is an autonomy for the hill area’’.
On the other hand with the demand for autonomy the love for valley people of the territorial integrity will not also shattered, added another speaker K Guite.
Chairperson of the HPF-M R Sanga said, ”There is awareness in the intellectual circle of the hills people in Manipur for the creation of Autonomous Hills State in Manipur but at the grass root level its as good as nill and this will be where the HPF will be working”.
He continued that the aim of the new forum is also to protect the right of the indigenous tribal, to protect their rights over land, to strive for autonomy of the hill area and said that to enforce this, all the like minded people and group in any district of the hills are welcome to join the forum.
Vice -chairman of HPF-M, VC Moia said, “We as a tribal and hill people of Manipur are having a misfortune which is “lack of unity”, that had been the product of our past politicians.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/no-separate-units-for-naga-kuki/
