Don't ever blockade Manipur : AAMYA

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 8: The All Assam Manipuri Youth Association (AAMYA) has categorically stated that it would impose more intense counter blockade if the Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) imposes another indefinite blockade on the National Highway leading to Manipur ever again.
A 10-member team of AAMYA was felicitated at the office of the Indigenous People’s Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) at Keishampat here today.
Speaking at the felicitation function, AAMYA chief advisor Kundal Kshetrimayum said that the recent counter blockade imposed by AAMYA in Assam was not targeted against the people of Nagaland.
It was a reaction to SAPO’s inhuman and unwarranted action, he said.
He maintained that the counter blockade was imposed out of compulsion but no excess was committed and there was no report of any untoward incident in the course of the counter blockade.
Even though SAPO has temporarily suspended their highway blockade, they have not yet shown any sign of understanding the suffering they caused to the people of Manipur nor have they evinced any indication of respecting human rights of the people of Manipur.
Rather, they cited a golden jubilee celebration for suspension of their indefinite blockade, Kundal said.
In case, SAPO decides to impose bandh or blockade against the people of Manipur, AAMYA would be compelled to take up more intense counter measures. SAPO and the Government of Nagaland should be held accountable for any untoward incident resulting from it, he said.    
He maintained that SAPO imposed the indefinite bandh in their own selfish interest for they knew that opening of security post at Dzuko Valley within the territory of Manipur would prove to be a serious blow to their illegal lumbering and timber trade.
Alleging that the Government of Nagaland seemed to be supporting SAPO and its illegal activities, the AAMYA chief advisor categorically stated that if there is boundary dispute, it should be resolved between the two neighbouring States and there is no place for customary laws in such matters.
Even though Manipuri people living in Assam are different from the people of Manipur from geo-political perspective, they always think of themselves as sons and daughters of Kangleipak, he said.
Settlement of Manipuri people in Assam started before the Seven Years Devastation (1819-26). Migration of Manipuri people to Assam can be categorised into three phases, he said.
Pointing out that Meiteis have the largest settlements in Barak Valley, Kundal claimed that the Barak Valley was a part of Kangleipak.
It was the Jiri Treaty signed between British India and Maharaj Gambhir Singh  in 1833 which encompassed Barak Valley within the territory of Assam, he asserted.
Kundal said that the Manipuri diaspora settled outside Kangleipak will always stand and work for Kangleipak.
IPAK president Ksh Somorendro said, “We are against any attempt to create misunderstanding and conflict among the indigenous peoples of the North East.”
Asserting that the indefinite bandh imposed by SAPO recently was totally unwarranted, Somorendro appealed to all civil society organisations of Nagaland to take up necessary steps so as to avoid such provocations in future.
He said that IPAK would always work and stand together with the Manipuri diaspora.
AAMYA acting president Laishram Ravi and PANDM president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar also attended the felicitation function, among others.