Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 23:
Manipur Peoples' Army (MPA), the armed wing of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has appealed to the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) to learn to respect one's own brothers and sisters and also shun the path of reactionary activities.
Talking to reporters somewhere at Churachandpur district last Tuesday, a spokesman of the MPA charged the ZRA of spreading false and concocted stories against the MPA.
He also asked the reporters to verify ZRA's claim physically from the villagers in the district.
Strongly refuting the reports, published in the 'Lamka Post' and some other newspapers on September 9 by the ZRA, the MPA spokesman said that the charges are irrational and concocted.
Mention may be made here that ZRA had charged the MPA cadres of restricting the movement of the villagers with mine-bombs besides forcefully taking domestic animals like pigs for consumption and subjecting the villagers to forced-labour.
No mine-bombs which may restrict the movement of villagers have ever been planted as alleged by ZRA, the spokesman said adding that the MPA has neither carried out any extortion nor forced the villagers to work for them.
The MPA unlike the ZRA are here to help and improve the living conditions of the poor villagers, added the spokesman.
On July 13 last, ZRA cadres in an inhuman manner attacked the MPA cadres at Songpek Khul with bombs and other sophisticated weapons without the least consideration for the villagers who live in the surrounding areas, informed the spokesman adding that the MPA cadres were forced to retaliate in self defence resulting in the death of two ZRA cadres and seizure of two AK rifles.
If provoked, the MPA will not sit idle but will retaliate with greater fire power, he added.
ZRA with the intention of concealing the facts presented a concocted story to the public stating that MPA cadres had attacked and killed ZRA cadres without any provocation while patrolling in the area, said the spokesman.
The ZRA is carrying out reactionary activities in collusion with the NSCN (IM) and RAW, he further stated.
He also said that such unwanted incidents will occur more often and there will not be peace till the ZRA learns to respect its own brothers and sisters and shun the path of reactionary activities and added that the MPA is always ready to face any threat to the unity of Manipur and its people.