Manipur protesters

meanwhile, has agreed to bury by May 25 the eight corpses that still lie in the district hospitalmorgue.thebodieshavebeenkept in a cold storage, which was acquired by the protesters, at the local morgue. There were ninebodiespreservedoriginallybutonewas reported “stolen” earlier this year.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Chief Minister Singh described the agreement as “a landmark success”.

“Theriftbetweentribalsandmeiteishad grown and was increasing. This resolution hasreestablishedtrustamongthepeopleof Manipurtowardsthegovernment.afterfulfilling the commitment we made, the next move is to continue consultations with the people of Churachandpur district on development issues,” he said.

Benjaminvualnam,mediacellin-charge of the Joint Action Committee, said, “The government paid a lot of attention to this issue. The main difference between this government and the previous one is that of intention.wewillkeepoursideofthebargain andburythebodiesassoonasthestategovernment fulfills its promises, maybe even sooner.”

Vualnamsaidtherewerefiveofficialand innumerable unofficial meetings with the government before the agreement was reached.

“Wehavealsodemandedthataseparate district of Lamka be carved out of Churachandpurdistrictandthegovernment has told us that they will look into the matter. Of course, what we really want is the Constitutional safeguard of tribal lands, and that is what we will continue to work towards,” he said.

Violent protests over the ILP first broke out in Imphal valley to pressure the government to implement the system, on the lines of the ones in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachalpradesh.itledtoacompletelockdownandthedeathofofa17-year-oldprotester.

The then government’s response was to table three Bills in the assembly, ostensibly to protect indigenous rights. But these Bills were opposed by tribals across the state, who called them anti-tribal.

Within two hours of the Bills being tabled,protestsbrokeoutinchurachandpur. In the violence that followed, protesters burnthousesbelongingtoelectedrepresentatives, including that of Manipur’s Health Minister Phungzathan Tonsing.

The counter-protests also worsened relations between tribals of the hill districts and the dominant Hindu Meitei population in the Imphal valley.

The tribal population, which is largely Christian, was particularly opposed to the Protectionofmanipurpeople’sbillbywhich the government would set up a committee to determine who were Manipuri and who were not. The tribals described this move as the“communalagenda”ofthemeitei-dominated Congress government.

On May 11, 2016, the Union Home Ministry conveyed to the state government that the President had withheld the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015. The other two bills — The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th amendment ) Bill, 2015, and Manipur Shops and Establishments(2ndamendment)bill,2015 — were pending with the Centre.

Wednesday’s MOU states: “The State Government honours the sentiments of the Tribal people of Manipur.”

It states: “In future, any new Bill, which affects the interest of the indigenous tribal people,thestategovernmentwillfollowdue procedure as laid down by the Constitution of India and relevant rules in consultation with all stakeholders.’’

The agreement states that the government “acknowledges the demands” of the protesters “regarding the administration of the indigenous tribal people of Manipur...”

It adds that the government “shall extendallpossiblehelpandcooperationinthe tripartite talks with SOO groups (insurgent groups who have a suspension of operation agreement with the Centre) where various other issues and interests of indigenous tribal people of Manipur will be protected”.

The government further announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and permanent employment to the next of kin of the deceased by May 25. It also promised to provide Rs 50,000eachtothe48peopleinjuredduring the riots within or on that day.

The government will provide Rs 2 lakh compensation to eight persons who were disabled allegedly during police retaliation. A memorial park at Churachandpur town and a memorial hall in Singngat will be set up, according to the agreement.

Thegovernmenthasalsoassuredtheinitiation of a “proper investigation’’ into the “incident of police firing and subsequent death of civilians and take up action as per law”.