All preparations are in place to observe the 24th Great June Uprising Unity Day on June 18 (Wednesday), said Pheiroijam Nando Luwang, Chairman of the Great June Uprising Unity Day Observance Committee, today at Kekrupat, ahead of the annual memorial.
The day-long function will begin at 5 a.m. and continue till evening at the Kekrupat memorial complex. Participants, including family members of the 18 martyrs, student activists, local clubs, and Meira Paibi groups, will pay floral tributes to those who laid down their lives during the 2001 protest.
The June 18 Uprising was triggered by the inclusion of the phrase “without territorial limits” in the amended ceasefire agreement signed between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) on June 14, 2001 — known as the Bangkok Declaration. The controversial phrase extended the ceasefire’s scope beyond Nagaland to neighboring states, prompting fear and anger among the people of Manipur.
On June 18, 2001, 14 protestors were shot dead by CRPF personnel, and four more later died of injuries, making a total of 18 martyrs. Intense public pressure eventually led to the removal of the phrase from the agreement on July 27, 2001.
Speaking at Kekrupat, Great June Uprising Unity Day Observance Committee Chairman Nando Luwang said, “The Great June Uprising Unity Day is not just about remembrance — it is a day to defend Manipur’s unity. We are fully prepared to observe this year’s event with the same spirit and determination.”
He also urged student activists, local clubs, and Meira Paibi groups to take active part in the observance and uphold the legacy of the 18 brave souls who sacrificed their lives for the state’s unity.
The event, jointly organized by the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and the United Committee Manipur (UCM), remains a powerful symbol of collective resistance and integrity.
