No peace before solution stand repeated
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 24 2023: Seeking Central Government's immediate intervention, thousands of Kuki protesters today at Saparmeina village reiterated not to propagate peace before a solution.

A sit-in protest was held today at Saparmeina village in Kangpokpi district after a similar protest was held at Kangpokpi town and Keithelmanbi village seeking immediate Central Government's intervention with a solution based on the political dialogue between the UPF and KNO and the Governments.

Sticking firmly to the unanimous stance of the Kukis, "solution first, peace next" protestors strongly urged the Government and its machinery not to talk or initiate any peace process before any solution is arrived at.

Braving the heavy shower the protesters lined up along National Highway-2 and shouted a slogan, "We want Central Government's immediate intervention" while displaying various other pamphlets.

K Sitlhou, a spokesperson of the Committee on Tribals Unity, Sadar Hills which organized the sit-in protest said that Chief Minister N Biren Singh has lost the confidence of the Kuki people as barely a day after he had admitted his security and intelligence failure, a fresh violence erupted at the heart of the capital city in which a Church was torched followed by burning down a few houses in Churachandpur.

"How can we have faith in such governance when even the Chief Minister could not stick to his assurance", he added.

"We have already lost faith with the N Biren Singh led Manipur Government, there is no turning back to live with the valley people," he said.

The Central Government must immediately intervene with a solution for peace, he asserted.

Vehemently slamming the N Biren led Manipur Government, the COTU spokesperson said that for the past many decades they had lived peacefully without any tension with the valley brethren, but, under the leadership of N Biren Singh as the State Chief Minister, Manipur witnessed one of its worst communal tensions.

"There was no violence, fight, or any other communal tension between the valley dwellers and the Kukis in the past, nevertheless, under Chief Minister N Biren Singh violence and fighting erupted at the highest level", he asserted.

He then sought the Central Government 's intervention for immediate action against Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribals Unity Sadar Hills also expressed their deep disappointment over a Cabinet Minister who reportedly called for an end to the economic blockade along the National Highway.

Responding to the call of the Minister, COTU secretary, L Singsit said that there is no economic blockade imposed by the committee or any other organization, it was the people's voluntary act of resorting to the blockade on the highway since violence erupted on May 3 .

He continued that the mobs are beyond the control of the committee and any other organization while appealing to the Minister to come personally and convince the mob to end the blockade.

The committee secretary, while expressing discontentment over the tribal Minister's appeal or call for ending the blockade, said that the Tribal Minister appeal or call hurt the sentiments of tribal fellows as the call came when the tribal Kukis are subjugated at the maximum.

"We had never expected or even dreamt that such a call or appeal would come from our tribal Minister at this juncture, when we are crying, and living painfully", he added.

He then urged the Tribal Minister not to make such a call or appeal in future which could hurt the sentiment of its fellow tribal people under any circumstances.

He also said that by ending blockade the crisis in the State will neither escalate nor subside but it will project the wrong narrative that normalcy has been restored when in fact, nothing has been normalized.

An internally displaced woman, who joined the sit-in protest said while questioning the credibility of the Manipur Police Commando that they took an oath to safeguard and protect the citizens, but, why are they using their uniform and weapons to attack, kill, and burn down the houses of its own people.

She also recalled that the volunteers of the Arambai Tenggol and the Meitei Leepun could easily commit such heinous crimes under the protection and shield of the Manipur State police commando.

She then urged the Central Government to immediately intervene to stop such an intimidating act and also come up with a solution to save the future of Kukis.

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