MNRF denies hand in Jonathan killing
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 20 2013 :
While de-nying any sort of association with Jonathan Kashung, the Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) has strongly criticised the NSCN-IM for murdering many intellectuals.
A statement issued by MNRF's assistant secretary of information and publicity, Rex Kashung said the murdered TNL presidential candi- date, who was also a former convenor of Tangkhul Coordinate Committee (TCC) was the uncle of MNPF chairman John Francis Kashung.
The TCC was projected by Th Muivah under the leadership of Phungthing, Khuiyao and Athem.
It was during the time when K Jonathan was the convenor of TCC that they supervised the TCC and recruited volunteers who were given training at Phangrei and Singkap villages to give protection to Th Muivah on his visit to his native village, Somdal, MNRF said.
Alleging NSCN-IM of de-vising policy through K Jona- than and utilising his nephew John Francis Kashung to destroy MNRF, the statement said John Francis left MNRF when their policy could not materialise.
Then he made a deal with a valley based insurgency agent for purchase of arms and ammunition to the tune of Rs 30 lakh for the NSCN-IM.
But the agent was arrested by the Army.
As their mission failed, the combined cadres of TCC and MNPF, in the name of MNRF started monetary demand and collected tax from offices, officers, contractors etc to make up the amount lost in the arms deal through the guidance of NSCN-IM's Wung Tangkhul Region in 2011-12, it stated.
Jonathan was summoned twice at Hebron to give statement of the collected amount and to clear account for two years.
When he was about to clear the account, he was abducted and murdered.
MNRF further questioned why persons like Ningon, Simthin and Phaorei were spared when Jonathan was killed and whether the others were spared because of having big boss or being Western Tangkhuls.
It also cautioned the public to be aware of the NSCN-IM's policy of 'Use and discard' .