State denizens detained in Myanmar, says KSO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 06 2014 : Pointing out that four persons from Churachandpur have been detained by Myanmar authority since their reported arrest on Nov 19 from a place near Vaivet village by Myanmar army, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), General Headquarters has appealed to the authority concerned to secure the release of the four so that they reunite with their families.

A KSO statement signed by its information secretary, Laxmon Serto said that Thangliankhup of New Lamka, Khaisianmang of Changlian, Pausonlian of Chongchin and Khaizakham of New Lamka were apprehended by Myanmar Army while hauling fire-wood that belongs to a Myanmarese village chief who hired the vehicle on Nov 19, 2014 at a place near Vaivet village in Myanmar.

They were requested by the Myanmarese chief to help him haul fire-wood as the chief had trouble finding local trucks for his use.

The village chief also assured them of their safety and security.

When the four persons were arrested, the chief tried to negotiate their release but he was also arrested on his arrival at the spot.

All their belongings including cell phones, wallet, driving license and whatever cash they have were confiscated by the Myanmar army.

The four persons including the truck owner have been plying in area around Behiang transporting household commodities like rice, tin-sheets and cements in the Indian side of the border for the past three years to earn their livelihood, the KSO statement said.

The arrested persons are just innocent truckers who are not connected in any way to smuggling or illegal trading.

The fire-wood hauled by them were not meant for sale, they were just providing help out of courtesy to the Myanmarese chief who is well known to them, it said.

Lately it has been reported that the four persons who did not possess passports at the time of their arrest were handed over to the Myanmar police of Tonzang township and held under the country's Foreigners Act, the KSO further pointed out.

The plight of the four unfortunate men went unreported in local newspapers as their arrest was kept secret for the past several days by the Myanmar authority.

The men are now reeling under acute health problem as they have been tortured and deliberately starved, the KSO alleged.

Their poor families at home are now running from pillar to posts to get them back.

Whether they would succeed depends on the intervention of the Indian Government authorities for which the KSO appealed to the authority concerned to immediately act so that those unfortunate persons can re unite with their families.

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