Abrogate SoO: AMMPCO to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 19 2024:
The All Manipur Meitei Pangal Clubs Organisation (AMMPCO) too has joined the popular demand for abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) with Kuki militant groups.
Speaking to media persons at Lilong Keithel today, AMMPCO working president Rehman Yumkhaibam said Meitei Pangals condemn in the strongest terms the widespread violence unleashed by Kuki narco-terrorists since May 3, 2023 .
It is highly condemnable that Kuki terrorists have been killing unarmed civilians like firewood collectors and farmers instead of engaging with armed combatants, he said.
Rehman remarked that it is not clear whether a Government is there in Manipur or not.
The State Government is unable to control Assam Rifles and it is not clear who is heading the Unified Command, he said.
As the State Government has its own Home Minister, he ought to be heading the Unified Command, he asserted.
The violent conflict has been going on for nine months and other communities cannot afford to just look on, said the AMMPCO working president.
All sections of the people are now suffering extreme misery.
If the people are put in such a sorry state for a longer period, casualties will rise and the crisis will worsen, he warned.
It is a matter of grave concern that laws are enforced only in Imphal while hill regions and peripheral areas have been left out of the purview of governance, he said.
He urged the Government to control the situation at the earliest instead of waiting for the crisis to grow bigger.
Withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur, hand over the reins of Unified Command to the State Government and abrogate SoO agreement with Kuki militants who have been killing unarmed civilians, the AMMPCO working president demanded.