24th Manipur Integrity and Solidarity Day observed NIPCO decries GoI's plan to construct mini-airport at CCPur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 28: The Central Government's plan to construct a mini airport at Churachandpur worth crores of rupees may encourage ethnic divide, said NIPCO president Oinam Premjit.
He said this speaking on the occasion of the  24th Manipur Integrity and Solidarity Day, observed at Janmasthan Club community hall, Keishamthong Moirang Ningthou Leirak today.
The event was organised by All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) and National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO).
The observance commemorates the September 28, 2000 mass rally against the "ceasefire without territorial limit" signed between the Government of India and NSCN(IM) at Bangkok.
Speaking to the gathering, NIPCO president Premjit dwelt on the present conflict besieging Manipur and asserted that the plan to construct a mini airport at Churachandpur reflects a policy that aims to break Manipur and undermine her integrity.
There have been multiple attempts to change names of places by the Kukis and recently, the address of the Imphal Airport was found written as Lamka, a name for Churachandpur that is being illegally used by the Kukis, he said.
Since May 3, 2023, Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have attacked Meitei villages, burnt houses and killed innocent civilians including women and children. They have fired missiles and used advanced drones to drop bombs on civilians. When these acts of terror have clearly targeted civilians driven by their aim to create a separate administration, the Central Government and the State Government have not taken any action against them.
Instead, the Government of India and the State Government are behaving as if there is peace and no threat to Manipur's integrity, Premjit said.
The Meiteis, he said, have been calling for peace and coexistence when the Chin-Kuki narco terrorists are hellbent on creating ethnic divide and breaking Manipur's integrity.
He called on all communities to stand for Manipur's unity and integrity.
Premjit recalled the September 28 mass rally in 2000 and said it was one of the largest public rallies in South East Asia.
AMKIL president Lourembam Nganbi said the September 2000 rally was a show of strength and unity against threats that sought to break Manipur.
Since Manipur merged with the Union of India, there have been multiple threats that sought to undermine Manipur's integrity, she said.
Under India's policies, Manipur's boundaries have shrunk. The present conflict is a result of India's failed policies, she added.
The present conflict started when Kuki protesters and armed men embedded among them in a rally in Churachandpur vandalised and burnt Meitei houses in Bishnupur and attacked civilians.
Since May 3, 2023, armed Kukis have burnt hundreds of houses and killed civilians in indiscriminate attacks. However, the security forces have not pursued the terrorists, she said.
When public protest demonstrations and rallies in Imphal and the valley have been suppressed brutally with use of maximum force, rallies in Churachandpur and other Kuki inhabited areas did not see any such crackdown from security forces. The laws certainly have been applied differently in the hills, she said.
When security forces have cracked down on Meitei youths who want to protect Manipur and her integrity, no actions have been taken up against Kuki militants who are openly attacking civilians aimed at breaking Manipur apart, she added.
The conflict has dragged on without any hope for peace soon. The Security Advisor who is overseeing the Unified Command should resign from his post on moral ground, she said.
The Security Advisor should not try to cover up cross-border movement of armed Kuki militants into Manipur, she added.
Nupi Samaj president Thokchom Ramani, Tami-Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup president Yambem Momon Leima and leaders of several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) attended the event.
The gathering observed a minute of silence as a mark of respect to departed members of the Civil Society Organisations.