KSDC set to impose bandh from Monday
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 07 2013:
The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) is all set to impose bandh and economic blockade from 5 am of Monday.
"This time, our preparation is far better and elaborate than the previous agitations," said George Guite while informing to Newmai News Network this evening.
When queried if there was any initiative from the government for talks, George Guite answer in negative.
The KSDC has decided to resume and intensify its stir after a long gap, with the committee announcing bandh and economic blockade along National Highways leading to Manipur from July 8 to 9, but the economic blockade is likely to extend till July 11.Flaying the Government of India for not realizing its written assurances given to the Kuki people, KSDC spokesperson K Khongsai had said few days ago that the Committee had decided to resume its earlier agitation by imposing general strike and economic blockade from 5 am of July 8 to 5 pm of July 9.We may extend the economic blockade stir till 5 pm of July 11 .
Flanked by TS Kuki, vice-chairman, KSDC and its general secretary K Gangte, Khongsai had expressed unhappiness over repeated failure of the Government to meet its long-pending demands while talking to newsmen somewhere in Churachandpur district on Thursday.
He said KSDC has taken the decision as it intends to put more pressure on the Government for a peaceful solution for the Kuki community.
"Only the media and medical related activities will be exempted from the purview of the strike," he had said.
KSDC will enforce blockade on Imphal-Ukhrul road, Imphal-Tamenglong road, Imphal-Moreh road, Imphal-Chandel road, Imphal Senapati road, Imphal-Churachandpur road and Imphal-Jiribam road, he said.
Khongsai had also said the committee appeals to all like-minded social organizations, sympathizers and supporters, and friends of the Kukis to support the movement for
a 'peaceful solution' .
KSDC had earlier imposed parallel bandh but suspended after the state Government gave it assurance to fulfill its demands by March 2013.The committee has been demanding both the state and Central Governments to start peace parleys with the Kuki armed groups�The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF)�which are signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) involving both the Central and state Governments.
The KSDC spokesperson had further said that the committee had on June 16 urged all concerned authorities to begin political dialogue with the KNO and UPF as assured by the Ministry of Home Affairs however it failed.
He had said the committee will never negotiate with the Government unless the latter this time gives a fresh assurance on its demands with a fixed date
to meet them.