People from different corners of state gathered at Kekrupat, Imphal on Tuesday to pay their tributes to the 18 protestors who were killed during the mass protest against the Bangkok Declaration that the cease-fire agreement between the government of India and the NSCN IM that extended without territorial limits.

Leaders from different communities of the state and Manipuri’s from other northeastern states participated in the gathering.

 President of United Committee Manipur, UCM, and vice chairman of the June 18 Observation Committee, Sunil Karam said June 18 will be always remembered in the history of Manipur.

He said that different communities in the state had collectively defended the land since the British rule but after Manipur was annexed by India, the divisive policy began which disrupts the integrity of the state.

Sunil also said that globalization will wipe out all the indigenous people in the state unless different communities in the state unite and stand together, leaving aside differences. He said, “only a united Manipur will be able to defend the state from differences forces trying to break the unity of the state”.

Recalling the Bangkok Declaration on June 14, 2001, between the Centre and NSCN IM, Sunil also said that it was the main factor that led to the June uprising in 2001 and the protest still continues in Manipur till today.

Post the uprising, the Centre on July 27  remove the word, ‘‘without territorial limit’’ from the agreement but till now the territorial integrity of the state is at stake.

Therefore there is still the need for people to stay united and defend the land together. He added Sunil said, “how many more lives should be sacrificed, how many memorandums should be submitted to the Centre to protect the integrity of the state”. He also appealed to the people of Manipur to leave aside their differences for a common future.

Chairman of the 18th June Uprising Day and Unity Day Observation Committee Deban Sharma in his speech said Manipur was an independent nation until India annexed it on 1949. Appealing the people to recall the June 18, 2001 incident, he also said that people should also be prepared to face any external force trying to interfere in the state.

The Centre is aware that people of the state still wants to be independent from India. To suppress the collective voice of the people, the Centre used to divide and rule policy using the controversial act, Armed Forces Special Powers Act as well as signed the cease-fire agreement with NSCN IM on August 1997.

Given the stated stand of the NSCN IM of craving 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 office attacked, the Manipur state legislative assembly Speaker humiliated by parading him with a garland of slippers. Even the Manipur Chief Minister’s bungalow was attacked and in the police action 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, giving tribute and honour to the sacrifices of the martyrs.