AMUCO has called for upholding the patriotic spirit of the 18 martyrs of June 18, stating that it would be meaningless to pay floral tributes to them if Manipur does not fight with all cost to protect the territorial integrity of the state from external forces.
"If we don't carry the spirit of the 18 martyred souls of June 18, it will be meaningless to pay floral tribute to those 18 martyred. We need to carry on their patriotic spirit and fight at all costs to protect the integrity of Manipur from all external forces," AMUCO president Ph Nando Luwang said speaking to the media during a social service and tree plantation drive held at Kekrupat, Imphal on Thursday.
Ph Nando Luwang is also the chairman of the observation committee on the 22nd anniversary of the Great June Uprising, also known as Unity Day.
Considering the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the committee has decided to observe June 18 in a subdued manner.
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This year, the public convention, traditionally held at Kekrupat, will be omitted due to the ongoing unrest. However, the function of paying floral tributes by family members and well-wishers will proceed as usual.
AMUCO president also accused the Central government of engaging in communal and divisive politics, stating that it has led to the present unrest and a decline in work culture over the years.
He affirmed that the people of Manipur will always stand against any attempts to disintegrate the state.
Nando further urged the people of Manipur to let the spirit of the 18 martyrs shine and demonstrate to the world that they possess the courage and determination to confront external influences that threaten the integrity of Manipur.
UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam, who is also the vice-chairman of the committee, criticised the Central government for its silence on the issue of illegal immigrants attacking indigenous people in Manipur in their quest for land.
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He attributed the present unrest to the reaction of these illegal immigrants to the cessation of poppy plantation in Manipur and stressed the need of the state government to convey this clear-cut picture to the central government.
Restoration of peace will be impossible unless the ‘Chin-Kuki terrorist’ is wiped out from the soil of Manipur, the UCM president said, appealing to both the Central and state government to do the needy for early restoration of peace in Manipur.
On behalf of the committee, Joychandra extended an invitation to all the people of Manipur to participate in the floral tribute ceremony commemorating the 18 martyrs on June 18 at Kekrupat.
