HSA rules out Hmar villages under Jiribam district, Asks govt to take prior consent

From Robert Lalmalsawm Sungte

The Hmar Students Association (HSA) has called upon Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for an  ‘informed decision’ on the proposed Jiribam district in this Northeastern state of India. A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Chief Minister Mr Singh for his ‘immediate’ consideration to the stand taken by the student on 30th August.

Expressing apprehensions at the creation of the new Jiribam district, which will be dominated by a majority community, in south western Manipur they said, “The creation of a full fledge Jiribam district will cause loss of a huge number of tribal indigenous villages and land.”

“No Hmar villages in the SDC Jiribam and Churachandpur district will be allowed to be merge into Jiribam district without the prior consent of the Hmar people,” it added.

Sending strong warning to the State government the memorandum said, “Any challenges and threats to the people, identity, land and future shall be met with appropriate action and force.”

The student body asked the government to take the “free consent” of all the Hmar villages which falls under the proposed new district before they are brought under it adding that “any consent must be free from external manipulation, interference and coercion.”

The student body also pledges to protect the Hmar tribal “identity” stating that even “an inch of our land shall not be surrendered” as "we(HSA) have taken over the role of custodian of the future security of our tribe."