Asserting that the inhabitants of Pumlen-Khoidum are the owner of this land, the two unions said they are prepared to carry out different forms of agitations against the eviction notice
TFM News Service
Pumlen Pat Khoidum Lamjao Kanba Apunba Lup and Ngamee Lup on Sunday reiterated their stand against eviction notification of DC Kakching and resolved to collectively stand against it. Asserting that the inhabitants of Pumlen-Khoidum are the owner of this land, the two unions said they are prepared to carry out different forms of agitations against the eviction notice.
The resolution was reaffirmed at an event organized by Pumlen Pat Khoidum Lamjao Kanba Apunba Lup and Ngamee Lup at Nongmaikhong Leimakhong Lairembi Community Hall to mark the 125th Anniversary of Jananeta Lamyanba Hijam Irabot.
They further resolved that they will stand together against the conversion of the Pumlen area into Conservation Reserve for Sangai. They also decided to collect and document the different historical, social, spiritual, economic and cultural relations with the Pumlen and Khoidum area.
In the meeting, they resolved to demand the right to use land and water, the right to fish and the right to farm in our own ancestral land.
They also decided to request every candidate of (the upcoming state assembly election) of the constituency to raise the issue of the fishing and farming community.
It may be noted that Pumlen Pat Khoidum Lamjao Kanba Apunba Lup and Ngamee Lup have been demanding withdrawal of DC’s eviction notification and asserted the inhabitants of Pumlen-Khoidum are not encroachers or occupiers.
Perturbed by the Deputy Commissioner of Kakching’s eviction notification dated March 23, Pumlen Pat Khoidum Lamjao Kanba Apunba Lup had submitted a representation to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Manipur as well as to the DC. The representation stated that issuing such an Order under Section 11 of Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms act of 1960 is a fundamental violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees Right to Life and Livelihood to communities including those of Pumlen Pat.
The villages in Pumlen Pat area are 1) Nongmaikhong, 2) Arong Khunjao, 3) Arong Khunou, 4) Tokpaching, 5) Sarik, 6) Hiyangkhong, 7) Konuma, 8) Sekmaijin Khunou, 9) Sekmaijin, 10) Khoidum Lamjao, 11) Tera Pisak, 12 Hiyanglam, 13) Hiranmei, 14) Lamjao, 15) Langmeidong, 16) Thounaojam, 17) Yangdong, 18) Elang Kangpokpi, 19) Thongjao, 20) Waikhong, 21) Komnao, 22) Langoipung, 23) Yangbi, 24) Kaching Khunou & 25) Thongam. The government has termed the indigenous residents as encroachers despite the fact that these villages have been fishing and farming since time immemorial, it said
The Lup had criticized the timing of the DC’s notification as it was issued when both the PM of India and CM of this state have asked people to stay home during this COVID 19 pandemic. “The DC is trying to enforce displacement and homelessness during this covid crisis by labelling them as ‘trespassers” – which is an arbitrary law that does not respect any of the ways of life and livelihood of wetland ecosystems,” it had said.
It stated that the notification has spread fear among the villagers. The deputy commissioner must bear all responsibilities for loss of life, damage and trauma caused as a result of the notification and for any action taken up by the DC, it added.