The committee made an appeal to the state government set up a public park at Kekrupat or hand over the responsibility to the committee for its maintenance.
Lelen Vaiphei
With June 18 approaching, observation committee of Great June uprising day began preparation with a social service inside Kekrupat today. The committee made an appeal to the state government set up a public park at Kekrupat or hand over the responsibility to the committee for its maintenance.
On 18th June 2001, there was an unprecedented protest against the Bangkok declaration that the ceasefire agreement between the government of India and the NSCN IM was extended without territorial limits.
Given the stated stand of the NSCN IM to crave out a greater Nagaland by slicing parts of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, fearing threat to the state’s territorial integrity, the people of Manipur rose in protest.
In the unprecedented uprising, the State legislative assembly was burnt, BJP Manipur Pradesh was attacked, the Manipur state legislative assembly Speaker was humiliated by parading him with a garland of slippers.
Even the Manipur Chief Minister’s bungalow was attacked and in the police attack against the violence, 18 protestors were killed.
Following the protest, the government of India had to delete the three words – without territorial limits.
Every year since 2001, 18th June is observed as the Great June Uprising at Kekrupat where the bodies of the protestors were consigned to flames to give tribute and honour the sacrifices of the martyrs.
Speaking to media persons at Kekrupat today, general secretary of United Committee Manipur, Khuraijam Athouba said Kekrupat remains neglected the whole year except when the time comes for the June 18 observation. He said that the state government has failed to maintain Kekrupat but at the same time does not want to hand over the responsibility to the people either.
The Observation Committee appealed to the people to abstain from calling any bandhs and blockades on June 18 and requested different civil organisations and the police personnel to aid in free movement to the people attending the observation.
President of All Manipur United Club Organisation, (AMUCO), Deban Sharma who was also present at the social service said that Manipur is a land having a 2000 year old history with its own distinctive boundary. He alleged that the state encountered different problems after it merged into the Indian union in 1949.
United Committee Manipur (UCM) president, Sunil Karam clarified that the observation is not against any community and it is observed to foster unity amongst the people of all communities living in the state. He also said after Manipur was annexed into India, disunity and communal disharmony among different communities were fomented.
He further added that since the Centre and state government has not yet given a clear stand on the protection of Manipur’s territorial integrity, the Great June Uprising Observation has continued till today,
The Committee also revealed that Manipuri’s from Assam, Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar would be taking part in the observation.
