The first Indigenous People’s Assembly organised by the Federation of Haomee (FoH) on Friday at Adimjati Amity Hall in Imphal declared 25 ethnic communities as the “First Settler/Aborigines/Indigenous and Native People of Manipur.”
As per a resolution of its Assembly, the 25 communities are Anal, Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Inpui, Lamkang, Liangmei, Kabui, Kharam, Khoibu, Kom, Koireng, Maring, Mao, Maram, Meetei, Monsang, Moyon, Paomei, Purum, Rongmei, Thangal, Tangkhul, Tarao and Zeme.
The ancestors of the 25 communities had recorded history of old-aged origin, stated the resolution. By Family Lineage, the 25 communities are the only indigenous people by blood lineage, it stated.
The Assembly also resolved restrictions against distortion of history and new name shifts of the traditional places and also to protect, preserve and promote the land, distinct cultures, customs, costumes and languages of the indigenous communities.
It also decided to look into the infringement in the rights of the indigenous village chiefs by non indigenous, intimidation and any sorts of violence and oppression on the indigenous people by non-indigenous and forced land grabbing from indigenous communities by outsiders.
It also decided to set up an “Indigenous People's Council, Manipur” at legislative level to serve the needs of the indigenous populations of Manipur as well as a central interface for the indigenous community with the government.
It further adopted the follow- up of action program of a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12, 2022 demanding exercising of NRC in Manipur.
The Assembly was attended by representatives of Inpui Naga Union, Khoibu Tribe, Mao Union, Maram Union, Salaai Kanba Lup, MJJA, Moyon Naga Council, Tarao Tribe Union, Thangal Village Chief Association, Kabui Union among others.
President of FoH Sapamcha Jadumani who chaired the Assembly said that the native people are not defined properly in the ILP guidelines. It has not been implemented successfully till date, he further said, adding that the Assembly is organised to define and identify the term indigenous for effective implementation of the ILP.
He alleged that outsiders have outnumbered many small indigenous communities and some of them are even forcing them to change their ethnic groups. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to strengthen the bond between the indigenous groups, safeguard the indigenous population and integrity of Manipur, he added.
