CM's pat on SFs irks URF
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15, 2013: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh applauding contribution and success of security forces in suppressing insurgency movement at a recent event has been dismissed by the armed United Revolutionary Front (URF) as fanciful and yet another attempt to remain in the good books of the Central leaders.

Reacting against the CM's remark at a function hosted by Red Shield Division at Leimakhong army facility some days back, a URF statement issued by its Information and Publicity secretary AK Pibarel said that Ibobi hailing effectiveness of both State and Central security forces in subduing campaign of various armed groups and terming role of the security forces as beneficial to the State only testify that the CM disregards interest of Manipuris in order to please the central leaders.

Cautioning the CM that further subjugating genuine demands and aspiration of the hill State (Manipur) people would certainly backfire, Pibarel asked O ibobi to reconsider his objective of suppressing rights of the people by giving free hand to the security forces.

Reminding all concerned that people of Manipur have every right to launch any movement for regaining the lost sovereignty and the same is permissible under international laws, the URF also opined that the Chief Minister pulled up and punished by the International War Crime Tribunal cannot be ruled out for encouraging security forces to commit crimes against the people.

As head of the State O Ibobi is liable to be held responsible for violation of human rights by the security forces, said the URF secretary while pointing out that with the court of international tribunal pulling up and punishing a number of influential individuals for crime against humanity the same fate befalling upon the Manipur Chief Minister is a possibility.

regarding individuals with political aspiration, he suggested that every politician and political organisations contribute their mite in emancipating Manipuris from continuous domination and subjugation by security forces.

Rather than spreading Indian ideology and adopting politics of mainland india understanding local sentiment would bring positive outcome and be acceptable to the people when independence is restored, said the secretary.

Pibarel also stated that irrespective of continuous civic action programme organised by the Indian military the masses cannot be lured or their determination reversible for the people of Manipur are not only witness to brutalities of security forces but also well aware that such activities are being initiated to cover up misadventure of the men in uniform.

Opining that another objective of civic action programme is to segregate the common people from those directly involved in armed campaigns, he said that assuming the ongoing movement to be deprived of the masses' patronage would one of the biggest political stupidity and militarily naive for living as a free citizen in a free country is the ultimate aspiration and objective of every community in the world.

Apart from the civic action programme aimed at lifting morale of the security forces who had been unable to effectively tackle decades old insurgency movement, it would be wishful thinking for the Government of India and its armed forces to equate tolerance of 63 year of domination to the people of manipur giving up hope regaining freedom, asserted the URF.

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