Imphal, June 18 MNS\/NNN: Thousands of people in Manipur including various leaders from outside the state today paid fitting floral tributes to the 18 people who sacrificed their lives in safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur during the June 18, 2001 uprising.
\nThe All Manipur Clubs Organization (AMUCO) observed the day as \u201cUnity Day\u201d while the United Committee Manipur (UCM) observed it as \u201cThe Great June Uprising Day.\u201d
\nY. Nabachandra president UCM, Akhup Serto Aimol, Asong Koireng, Lengkham Thangal, S. Tangkhul, C. Haokip, Modar Maring. Alu Kamei Pui, Lholar Kom, Rose Mangshi Haokip, Akim Serto, Haokhothang Baite, Md. Jakir Hussain, RK Ranendrajit, H. Ibotombi Khuman, Ph. Shakhi Devi, Y. Leirik Leima, Binod Khaba, Y. Devabrata, T. Shyamkeshwor were on the dais in the function organised by UCM.
\nThe Government of India and NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement \u201cWithout Territorial Limit\u201d on June 14, 2001 that came to be known as the Bangkok Agreement, which sparked widespread violent protests in the state. The AMUCO called a 66-hour general strike to protest the Bangkok Agreement during which 18 people were killed.
\nThe UCM, a conglomerate civil society of various NGOs which was formed after the June uprising also took major role in the unrest and in spearheading the mass movement against the policy of Indian government.
\nThe main function of the observance was held at Kekrupat in Imphal, the memorial complex of the 18 people who were killed in the security force firing. Yumnam Nabachandra, president, UCM and KT Rahaman, president, AMUCO led thousands of people including ministers, MLAs, people from other states among others in paying rich tributes to the martyrs at Kekrupat.
\nAs part of the 11th Unity Day observance, AMUCO organized a public meeting at Thangmeiband Thau ground here.
\nSpeaking on the occasion, KT Rahaman, president, AMUCO said the major Naga ethnic group Zeliangrong has started to raise voice against the special administrative arrangement, a demand of United Naga Council (UNC) as it is based on communal line.
\nAMUCO has a firm believe that unity does not meant only for the Meiteis but it includes both the hills and the valley, he asserted while adding that AMUCO always stands for integration among all the ethnic communities in the state.
\nNC Modhuchandra, secretary general, AMUCO while delivering keynote address at the public meeting at Thau Ground said the Naga and the Kuki groups in the state are now trapped in the divide and rule policy of the Indian government.
\nHe said the most unfortunate major controversy with regard to the state integrity is caused due to lack of unity between the hills and the valley people and a common political aspiration.
\nIn the meantime, Yumnam Nabachandra, president, UCM while addressing the gathering at Kekrupat said the UCM is for all the people of Manipur and is an apex body in the state.
\n\u201cThe great heroes who sacrificed their lives in the Great June Uprising are a part of the history of Manipur and that we should never forget them\u201d, he maintained.
\nHe reiterated the martyrs laid down their lives for safeguarding the territorial integrity of the state so we the citizens of Manipur should not forget them.
\n\u201cWe the citizens of Manipur should not forget that we are all brothers and sisters,\u201d the UCM president added. \u201cWe must all stand for our state and collectively fight for the unity and prosperity of the state,\u201d he said.
\nOn the other hand, as part of the June 18 event, the UCM also organized the 11th Voluntary Blood Donation Camp at Kekrupat. Two medical teams from RIMS and JNIMS conducted the blood donation camp.
\nIn all, 42 people donated blood during the blood donation camp out of which 36 were male donors and six female donors.<\/p>\n\n