SoO cadres responsible of violence: Gitajen
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 10 2023:
Social and political activist H Gitajen has asserted that SoO militants must be held account able for the ethnic violence in the state, which has left many innocent civilians from both the Kuki and Meetei communities dead.
Speaking to newspersons at his Ghari residence on Tuesday, Gitajen opined that some Kuki groups perceived the war on drugs as a challenge against the community by Chief Minister N Biren and the Meetei/Meitei community.
Since this curtailed their biggest source of income, they schemed to end the tenure of CM Biren.
The armed groups under SoO also created a big issue by engaging Kuki people in mass poppy plan tation and caused destruction to trees in Koubru, Baruni and other hill areas.
The second point is the opposition to protection of reserved forests as it will affect the expansion of villages and poppy plantations.
The third is the strong opposition to implementation of NRC, which could be detrimental to the unauthorised entry of Burmese Kukis into the state.
All of these issues contributed to the Kukis' growing anger against the government and the Meetei/Meitei community, he remarked.
The fourth point is the Kukis attempted to solicit support of other tribal groups vis a-vis the ST demand.
If the ST demand was truly the cause of the clashes, there would be violence in Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati districts as well, he pointed and suggested that the matter be contested in the court.
The activist then raised suspicions if the SoO militants, who are shooting, threatening and murdering innocent Meetei/ Meitei people, are being supported wholeheartedly by bureaucrats.
The armed groups under SoO also created a big issue by engaging kuki people in mass poppy plantation and caused destruction to trees in koubru, baruni and other hill areas.
MLAs, ministers or influential individuals.
As such, he stressed the need for exposing elements trying to decimate the Meetei/ Meitei community.
He reiterated that SoO militants must take responsibility for the ethnic clashes which have left scores of innocent Kuki and Meetei people dead, injured and displaced.
The state government must take strict legal action against these groups and drive them away from Manipur, while ensuring immediate protection of the Meetei/Meitei people stuck in the hill areas.
Gitajen also urged Kuki outfits bound by SoO agreement to give up the idea of disintegrating Manipur and creating discord among the indigenous communities.