A joint meeting of the Tangkhul Naga Long, Kuki Inpi Ukhrul and Kuki Chiefs of Litan on August 8 adopted three key points with regards to the proposed setting up of Semi-permanent Relief Camp in Ukhrul district and concluded that no such relief camps would be required in the district.
Rather, the meeting appealed to the concerned authorities to plan a roadmap for setting up ‘permanent settlement’ for the Internally Displaced People at their origin of place.
According to reports, the three key points adopted during the meeting are - 1) The proposed setting up of Semi-permanent Relief Camp is not required in Ukhrul district and hence the plan be dropped forthwith. The concerned authority should plan out for permanent resettlement in other districts; 2) No IDPs from other District/State/Country shall be sheltered in the Ukhrul district. In case, if there are any, they should be immediately deported to their respective places, and 3) In the event of any IDPs taking shelter in temporary relief camps finding difficulties in moving back to their respective district, the TNL shall assist in every possible way.
A press statement of the Tangkhul Naga Long by its vice president RS. Jollyson on Wednesday stated, “As directed by the United Naga Council (UNC) that no permanent structure or Semi-Permanent Relief Camps shall be allowed in Naga areas and subsequently the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has submitted a memorandum to the Government of Manipur on the same issue. Reiterating to the standing order of the UNC on the matter, it is to remind all the concerned that from time immemorial, all our lands are either owned individually or collectively (clan, village). In recognition of the customary practices as stated, we stand armed with constitutional protection under the Vth Schedule of the Constitution read along with Article 371(c) of the Constitution prohibiting thereof trespasses on our lands from outsiders even by way of purchase”.
“Therefore, arbitrary decision/action for acquisition of our ancestral lands for setting up of Semi-Permanent Relief Camp without the knowledge and consent of TNL would most definitely amount to brazen subversion of our age-old Customary practices and Constitutional protections sanctioned on this behalf. For the reasons most compelling and consequential to the core of our security and protection of our ancestral land, the TNL had a meeting with the Kuki Inpi, Ukhrul and Kuki Chiefs of Litan areas on 8 August 2023 at TNL Office, Ukhrul and unanimously adopted the following points,” it added.
“The above resolutions were taken to reflect our utmost resolve to avoid any untoward incident in the future,” the statement read.
