1st Indigenous Peoples’ Parliament begins

There will be differences but there are areas where we can fight together – Stephen Angkang

The first North East Indigenous Peoples’ Parliament organised by Coalition for Indigenous Rights Campaign, Manipur, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha and Assam Meitei Apunba Lup begins here today at Kangsang, Khuman Lampak, Imphal. The first Parliament for the Indigenous people of the entire North Eastern States of India is being attended by various ethnic communities from across the North East states of India and during the parliament which will continue for three days various issues including Challenges and Survival of each tribe staying in the region, Human Rights and Human Security with special reference to controversial Armed Forces Special Powers ACt, 1958, Economy and Development with special reference to the Indian Act East Policy and Foreign direct investment, land and natural resources, Dams and water and fundamental rights of the people of the state will be discussed in depth to find out the common issues where all the indigenous people of the region could stand in one platform to fight together.
Veteran Tangkhul leader and former President of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL)  Stephen Angkang graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest while former Principal of DM College of Science Hidangmayum Dwijasekhar Sharma presided over it.
Speaking on the occasion Stephen Angkang said that there will be differences among the various indigenous people inhabiting in the north east part of India but there will be some area where all the indiginous people of the North East India could go together.
“We will debate, discuss for the common cause and I hope the result will be good”, said the veteran Tangkhul leader.
Stephen Angkang appreciated the organiser for making success in making such a common platform at which all the indigenous people of the state could together and discuss their issues.  
Matiur Rahman, President of the Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha and also convernor of the NE Parliament in his speech deliberated on the problem of influx of migrants in the region.
He said influx of foreign migrants rooted from the British days, it was to serve their purposes but is still continuing till today and remain as a big challenge to the indigenous people of the entire North East people.
“Illegal migrants are occupying political space in North East region and they are being patronise by the bloody political parties”, Matiur Rahman said.
He further said that the Assam NRC of 1951, census report 1951 and in the first Electoral Roll of 1952 covered all the whole North Eastern Region 30% foreigners names has been included. He said this thing happen only in the NE region and thus those migrants coming after 1951 should be  deported after detection.
Hidangmayum Dwijasekhar Sharma, who presided the inaugural session recalled on how the government of India has been depriving the region since its merger to the Indian Union. He said at the time when the then King of Manipur wrote letter to the then Indian Authority to include a person from Manipur in the preparation of the Indian constituency the Indian PM never listened to him showing signed that Manipur is not important to India.
He also said that even today too the government still ignore the NE region at various field. The aspirant Look East Policy now Act East Policy is not for the people of North east but for the people but for the maniland Indians.
A total of 25 different ethnic indigenous communities of the North East states are taking part in the 1st peoples’ parliament. Those taking part includes representatives from Deori, Karbi, Khashi, Jaintia, Moran, Tripuri, Rehyang, Bru, Hmar, Chiru, Zemei, Kharam, Chothe, Maring, Kom, Kabui, Thadou, Liangmei, Aimol, Meitei and Meitei Pangal.
Representatives of the Dimasa, Mizo, Meising and Arunachalli are on the way to attend the parliament, said an organiser.