Re-implement Inner Line Permit System for Indigenous people of Manipur

To,
Okram Ibobi Singh
Honourable Chief Minister of Manipur

Copy to:

1. General Secretary of United Nations
2. Indigenous Peoples Organizations
3. Prime Minister, Republic of India
4. Home Minister, Republic of India
5. Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur
6. Governor of Manipur
7. MLAs of Manipur
8. Media Houses

Subject:

1) Ensure Justice to Sapam Robinhood Singh by making over haul changes to the Manipur police system and holding the police officer involved accountable for their crime.

2) Ensure Rights of Indigenous Peoples by stopping the present policy of mass radical immigration to cause cultural, traditions, identity and demographic genocide of Manipur by Re-Implementing Inner Line Permit System.

Sir,

We the undersigned would like to bring your utmost attention to the very important and serious issues of immigration that is affecting the indigenous peoples of tiny state like Manipur and which if timely appropriate actions aren’t taken urgently, can lead to many more serious incidences including further loss of lives and disrupting social cohesion and threatening communal harmony.

Sir, the inner line permit is an official permit that is given by the government of India when other Indian citizens wish to travel to the state of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. This is to regulate movement in this area which has become an important legislation to protect or safeguard these regions and the indigenous population.

When Manipur became an independent nation from the British colonial empire in 1947, it has started its own system of issuing permit / passports to visitor to the place. This was though abolished by the then Indian government in 1950 terming as discriminatory once the former kingdom was 'merged' into India.

Sir, as you are aware that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples. The Declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, as well as their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues. It also emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

Sir, as you are aware Manipur has been a place where many immigrants have found shelter through the ages especially to the most socially and economically deprived and has live with dignity like any of indigenous people. But in the last few decades, there has been unchecked mass immigration which today have led to many of the indigenous population become fearful and skeptic and if continued could lead to even seeing the immigrants as ‘invaders’.

Sir, you would agree that there is free flow unchecked radical immigration which many of our concerned public would see these as a racist design and racist policy of the Indian government to cause demographic and cultural genocide threatening tiny state like Manipur’s Identity that have built through hundreds of years by our ancestors.

The prevailing radical illegal mass immigration has led to many being fearful that our small indigenous population would become a minority like in Tripura or where many indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh have lose their mother language or worse becoming invisible communities engulf by the vast immigrants.

We strongly believed that Assam is a vivid example of how unchecked and a radical immigration policy have lead to many unfortunate violent incidences where many innocent lives have been loss and thousands displaced from their own homes thereby becoming homeless in their own homeland.

This we believe has led to many young people including Sapam Robinhood who tragically lost his life protesting and fighting for their future and to protect their identity. It is a miracle not many more young people did not lose their life in the recent protest especially in front of the many ill trained and unprofessional police officer which the state has recruited as forces of democracy.

Sir, we believe that this uncontrolled and radical mass immigration has tested the tolerance of many peace loving citizens of indigenous heritage filled state and if unchecked, could lead to serious but very regrettable state where the relations between the communities can become one that is hostile and provokes fear and intolerance. This sorry state of hostility and mistrust is almost seen in most parts of the world where there is radical immigration and used by some authoritarian states to subjugate smaller ethnic communities.

Sir, won’t it be so wrong if Manipur were to witness such hostility, mistrust between the many peace loving communities which can ultimately fractured our society and leaving an alarming and hostile legacy.

Sir, we write to you as our leader who we believed can have the will and strength to think for your people by seriously introspecting into the prevailing unchecked radical mass immigration into the state of Manipur, which is threatening its proud identity and heritage.

We strongly believe and fear the many serious consequences of radical immigration and as such believed that the Inner Line Permit System which was lifted on November 18, 1950 by the then Indian government, can one of the most important initiative to save Manipur and its people.

Sir, we know that there are many people who supports the present radical mass immigration policy to cause demographic genocide and would attempt to mislead the public by highlighting the Inner Line Permit System as discriminatory and anti-national and would be grateful if you could clarify that it is an important legislation to protect and prevent the further destruction of the indigenous people of Manipur and their heritage.

It is unfortunate and unacceptable that in a 21st century democratic state, that many heroic individuals like Sapam Robinhood and the many young colleagues of his has to suffer medieval brutality and unprofessionalism in the hands of the state police forces.

This we believe is the state responsibility that the inhumane and criminal police officers are held accountable by giving appropriate prison sentences for the murder of a bright and promising student who was protesting for his future which is a basic necessity in any society that is govern by democratic principles and values.

As such we wish to urge upon you, that you please take the most utmost serious approached to these illegal immigration issues and the present policing system that doesn’t allow democratic protest and flourishing of indigenous identity by implementing the following demands of ours and paved the fate of Manipur:

1. Immediate Re-implementation of Inner Line Permit System and initiation of other appropriate legislations to safeguard the future of the threatened indigenous people of Manipur.

2. Immediate appropriate prison sentences of those involved police officers that have used excessive and inappropriate forces that have led to death of our Hero Sapam Robinhood.

3. Ensure immediate re-orientation and education on democratic values to all Manipur police or security forces to understand the need and importance of democratic protest in a democratic society and thereby protect democratic protesters.

Respectfully Yours,
[Name]
Proud Supporter for The Rights of Indigenous Peoples!