Liangmai organisations have urged the state government of Manipur to take up necessary actions to protect and preserve the rich flora and fauna of Koubru hill and also take measures to stop “illegal encroachment or settlement” on it.
Liangmai Naga Council, Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ), Eastern Liangmai Chief Chairman Association (ELCCA) and Ahangruak Chief Chairman Association (ACCA) have, in a joint press release on Monday, then said that “the Liangmai Naga community appreciates and welcomes the decision of the state government to set up the proposed sacred site for Koubo Ra (Lord of Koubru) and Lai Pukhri on Koubru hill by the Department of Art & Culture, Government of Manipur, under Section (1) of Section 4 of Manipur Ancient & Historical Monuments and Archaeological site & Remains Act, 1976”. They, however, “outrightly rejected and nullified the so called agreement signed by the Committee on Protection and Preservation of Mt Koubru in the presence of ministers on April 20, 2021 on Mt Koubru impasse”.
It may be reminded that the “Liangmai Naga community is the rightful owner of the Koubru Hill Range and their settlement dates back to more than thousand (1000) years old”, said the statement. It added that the entire Koubru Hill Range is sacred to the Liangmai Naga people not only because it forms a part of their ancestral lands but their ancestors also held the Koubru mountain as a sacred and much revered place.
The Liangmai organisations then said that the history and culture of the Liangmai Naga community are deeply connected with the Koubru Hills. They added that the rich folklores and legends of the Liangmais are incomplete without the Lord of Koubru.
“It is our sincere advice to the Kuki civil society organisations to refrain from giving provocative statements on communal tones in public domain. We have suffered enough in the past, and now we are reeling under Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, issuing such thoughtless and baseless statements will vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the region,” the Liangmai organisations stated.
The Liangmai Naga organisations therefore “sincerely appealed” to all the civil society organisations to stop making unfounded and baseless claims over Koubru Hills. They also appealed to the civil society organisations to desist from erecting stones, putting notice boards” The Liangmai organisations also said that writing “cooked up and distorted narratives” cannot make anyone landowners or gain the indigenous status of Manipur . “Please don’t take our generosities and goodwill gesture for granted,” they cautioned.
The Liangmai organisations then said that the Government of Manipur should not become a laughing stock in front of the world for failing to protect its own indigenous people. “Hence, in order to avoid such embarrassment from its own people, the State Government should not only stop the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar but also protect and safeguard the indigenous people and their lands from the invasion of illegal immigrants,” they further said, adding, “Check rapid expansion of illegal hamlets and villages at the foothills of Koubru”.
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