‘Impasse cannot be solved by coercion but by negotiation’ Tense stand off ensues at Mt Koubru foothills

Our Correspondent
KANGPOKPI, Apr.13: Hundreds of people including village chiefs, womenfolk, youth, and CSO leaders of Kangpokpi congregated at L Mangjol village in the foothills of Mt. Koubru this morning and stopped police personnel from climbing up Mt Koubru.
Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru under the mandate of Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi and civil society organisations had annouced closure of all entry points of Mt. Koubru until the state Government respond as to why they should continue survey of Mt. Koubru in spite of formal objections submitted.
However, according to Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru, the State Government instead of initiating peaceful negotiation attempted to forcefully bulldoze the survey by deploying security force at the peak.
Village chiefs, womenfolk, youth, SAHILCA leaders and various CSO leaders were seen stopping the security personnel at L Mangjol village from proceeding further and climbing the peak today.
Lengthy discussions were held in the presence of ADGP, DIG Range IV, SP Kangpokpi, Addl SP (Ops) Kangpokpi, Addl SP (LO) Kangpokpi, Conservator of Forest and DFO Kangpokpi but no solution could be arrived at in the meeting.
Speaking on the sideline of the protest, Tongmang Haokip, advisor, Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt Koubru said considering the necessity of protecting and preserving the mountaina committee called Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru was formed in 2018.
He continued that the committee has been time and again made efforts to stop cultivation of opium and poppy at Mt. Koubru hill range while rendering maximum cooperation to the Forest Department and the State Government in preserving and protecting the mountain.
The committee was also involved in various green activities including plantation of tree saplings at the peak and spreading awareness on the need for protection and preservation of Mt. Koubru for the past many years, he added.
However, in 2019 some organisations had propsoed constructing a religious structure at the peak and finally organized the laying of foundation stone of the same in January 2020 through video conference and MP Sanajaoba, had inaugurated the foundation stone, he added.
He continued that the proposed construction of religious structure was immediately stopped by the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru with the stand that Mt Koubru is a religious place for all including Hindus, Christians and others as well and no religious structure of one particular religion can be constructed at the peak.
Later, the Haomee Federation had taken up the issue in a very provocative manner and along with that the Art nd Culture Department, Govt. of Manipur had intended to earmark certain areas of Mt Koubru for culture and heritage which the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru along with Saitu Chief had strongly opposed and submitted objections in wrting to the department concerned along with relevant documents for evidence that the area belongs to Saitu since time immemorial, he added.
He said that after such written objections “we expected the Government to invite us for negotiation but the State Government rather chose to bulldoze the sentiments and emotions of the people by sending a survey team to earmark certain areas of the peak to set up a culture and heritage centre.”
Tongmang Haokip further said that the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru closed the entry points of Mt. Koubru with the intention to get a response from the Government. But this was also again ignored by the State Government
He also said that the police officials told them that they had come following the restriction and closure of entry points of Mt. Koubru by Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru as published in various newspapers.
It is very unfortunate that the Government instead of addressing the sentiments of the people intend to forcefully conduct the survey which we oppose by undermining and bypassing the people's sentiments and emotions which is an outright rejection of people's rights.
Meanwhile, despite the stand to close all entry points of Mt. Koubru, some people were seen coming down from the peak while some were seen climbing the peak without any restriction.
A joint meeting of all village chiefs in Saitu Gamphazol, Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt. Koubru, SAHILCA and CSOs was held at Saitu. However, what was discussed in the meeting and its outcome could not be ascertained till the time of filing this report.
It was also reported the police personnel who retreated from L Mangjol were stationed at Songpijang village below L. Mangjol while volunteers confronting the police personnel were also blocking the road to Mt. Koubru at L. Mangjol till late in the evening. It was reported that the volunteers will be camping the whole night at L Mangjol village.