Like every year, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) observed ‘Langban Heitha Leitha’, a ritual ceremony of offering fruits and flowers to the departed souls who had lost their lives in the fight to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur on June 18, 2001.
The observance was held on Thursday at Kekrupat Memorial Complex, Imphal West, where the bodies of 18 people, including a woman, were cremated.
Addressing at the sidelines of the ceremony, UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam said the Union government signed the amended ceasefire agreement with the NSCN (I-M) in Bangkok on June 14, 2001, inserting the words ‘without territorial limits’. The ceasefire agreement also known as the Bangkok declaration had led the people to fight for the territorial integrity of Manipur in which 18 lives were lost.
UCM will continuously focus on fulfilling the wishes of those who had sacrificed their lives for unity and integrity of the state, he added while assuring that the committee will never tolerate any kind of threat to Manipur's territorial integrity.
Concerning the recent incident of urging more autonomy for ADCs, Joy said that there is no point of formation of a separate government when there is state government. Instead of putting up such a demand, it would be much better to fight for other issues that affect the interest of every community of the state.
He further appealed to all sections of society to extend their solidarity in protection of Manipur’s land regarding the Indo-Myanmar border dispute.
