Moreh municipality plan has tribal chiefs crying foul

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s idea of upgrading Moreh to a municipality for speedy civic development seems to have run into heavy weather, with both Kuki and Naga bodies in Chandel district voicing their opposition to the proposal. This when the CM chaired a meeting to discuss expediting the construction of the Composite Border Checkpost there. Streamlining cross-border trade and developing the town were ideas mooted by Ibobi earlier this week for peace in Moreh, following the last month’s violence that left 11 persons dead and a mutiny by India Reserve Battalion personnel.

Through statements issued to the media, both tribal communities have a common stand that since Moreh is part of the tribal areas of the state, it should be governed by laws of the Hill Tribal Council (HTC), as is the case now. Naga women and student bodies in Chandel have said although Moreh is inhabited by several communities, it’s part of a tribal district, and that no policy should be drawn up that would harm tribal interests.

More than half of Moreh’s population is Kuki and coming next are the Meiteis, comprising around 15 per cent.

The Kuki Chiefs’ Association has called the CM’s proposal a “meticulous gameplan for ignoring tribal rights as specified in the Indian Constitution”. The chiefs have also suggested that all development in tribal areas, which includes Moreh, can be done under the provisions of the Autonomous District Council Act, which is in force in all hill districts of the state, and that the relevant Hill District Councils be entrusted with the task, instead of creating a municipality.

The stance taken by the tribal bodies indicates that they prefer being under the HTC, rather than a municipal council, which would in all probability have members from the minority communities.