UCM pledges to face any threat to Manipur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 3: Concerned with the various issues threatening the integrity of Manipur, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has stated that it will oppose and face any force or power which try to harm the integrity or boundary of Manipur in any way.
A statement issued by the secretary, IPR of UCM today demanded an immediate halt to all attempts to encroach upon Manipur's boundary by Myanmar as well as other States.
UCM also stressed on the need for the Governments at both the Centre and the State, to strive for a permanent and long term solution to the border and inter-State boundary issues, instead of settling for a short term fix.
Claiming that the recent land encroachment incident by villagers from Nagaland at Tungjoi of Senapati district is not the first, UCM continued that the alleged threat against the villagers of Tungjoi, in the presence of Ministers and MLAs from the State who were on an inspection trip at the site, has created apprehension and fear among the people on the safety of Manipur's land.
Reminding past incidents like detention of some trekkers who were on a trip to Dzuko valley, tension between Mao people and Angami at Kozirii (Mao) etc, UCM claimed that the failure of the Government to efficiently handle such kinds of issues is the reason behind the difficulty in bringing unity in the State.
On the other hand, UCM stated that it views the recent secretive attempt to erect subsidiary pillars at the area between Border Pillar 81 and Border Pillar 82 with Myanmar,  as an act by the Indian Government to harm the integrity and boundary of Manipur.
Demanding the State Government to establish a Boundary Commission at the earliest and take up necessary action to assess the inter-State and International boundaries of the State, UCM cautioned that it has made necessary preparation to launch intense agitation along with the people against the State and the Central Government if the demand is not fulfilled. Appealing the State Government to act in the interest of the State and its people, UCM conveyed that the association will never compromise with the integrity of the State under any circumstance or condition.
UCM will stand strong and face any challenges to the integrity and boundary of Manipur along with the people, it added. Kangleipak Students' Association has also expressed strong concern regarding the recent attempt to erect subsidiary pillars along the border with Myanmar as well as the incident of land encroachment by Nagaland at Tungjoi, Senapati.
KSA further demanded the State Government and the Centre to come up with a long term solution to resolve such inter-State and International boundary issues, instead of just relying on short term arrangements which do nothing to rid the problem at hand.