Respect truce, says ZB-M to AR
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, September 23 2014:
The Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur (ZB-M) has asked the Assam Rifles to respect the Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement of 2001 signed between the Government of India and the NSCN-K.The ZB-M was irked with the alleged raid by the 27 Assam Rifles on an NSCN-K camp in Tamenglong district four days ago.
According to the Zeliangrong organisation, it deeply deplores the arrogant behavior of the 27 Assam Rifles troops that raided the NSCN-K camp at Rengkekiulong village under Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district, Manipur around 5 am on September 20.The acts of the 27 Assam Rifles created fear, physical harassment, tension, and disturbances to the innocent public of the village, it added.
"The Assam Rifles and other security forces should respect the Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement of 2001 that was signed between the Government of India and NSCN-K.With full knowledge of the ceasefire agreement, the Assam Rifles crossed its limit and ransacked the designated camp of NSCN-K that led to unnecessary physical harassments, tortured and threatened the peaceful atmosphere of the surrounding areas," the ZB-M said.
According to the ZB-M, though Assam Rifles troops may think their actions are to maintain peace and harmony in the country it has created lots of problems and trust deficit with the civilian population.
"The high handed action of the security forces in so called counter-insurgency measures have been counter-productive and breeding the anti-national groups.
In order to escape from mental harassment and torture by security forces, the semi-literates, and unemployed youths are forced to join the anti-social organizations," the Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur said.
According to ZB, Manipur, it was learned that NSCN-K cadres were not active with no signs of moving around with arms to threaten the people of Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district, Manipur.
However the Assam Rifles troops broke all ground rules of ceasefire agreement and attacked the NSCN-K's camp surprisingly.
The ZB-M also recalled that after the ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and NSCN-K was signed in 2001, the peaceful atmosphere prevailed in Zeliangrong inhabited areas in particular, and Naga inhabited lands in general.
The people expect and hope that the current talks between the Government of India and Naga groups will bring about a permanent peaceful solution to the protracted Naga issue, it added.
The ZB-M said witnessing the arrogant acts of security forces, the civil society and Zeliangrong people feel apprehensive that the truce may break again as before and gross violation of human rights, bloodshed, violence and militarization in Zeliangrong's land may return.
"The Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur and its frontal organizations are forced to term the acts of 27 Assam Rifles as provocative, unnecessarily creating tensions and violation of human rights.
We urge the Government of India and its security forces to respect the human rights of the people by suspending unnecessary operation in our inhabited areas.
If the security forces continue to harass and create unnecessary disturbances, we will not be mere spectators.
We will be forced to take necessary democratic agitation against the security forces," Zeliangrong Baudi, Manipur warned.