Demands action for justice on attacks against Thadou leader
- September 16th, 2024 :: Thadou Students' Association (TSA-GHQ) -
*
The Thadou Students' Association (TSA-GHQ) is enraged by the state government's inaction and failure in its duty to timely prosecute and apprehend those responsible for the repeated arson and terror attacks on Mr. T. Michael Lamjathang Haokip, the President of TSA-GHQ, his family and ancestral residence on May 7, 2023, August 25, 2024, and August 31, 2024, by Kuki militants and mob, including school children, who attended the protest rally organized by some Churachandpur-based Kuki civil organizations, including the KSO and others.
TSA is aghast at the failure of the government authorities to arrest the perpetrators of the crime and the masterminds till now. This is possibly due to the weakness and incompetency of the local police and district administration to enforce rules and laws on the ground despite the will of the state government. However, there can be no excuse for allowing injustice of such repeated acts of terror and crime, and therefore, TSA reminds the state government to hand over the case to the National Investigating Authority (NIA) without any further delay.
As an indigenous people of Manipur, the Thadou people value and promote peace, mutual-respect, stability and peaceful coexistence in the region even as we are committed to preserving the distinct culture and identity of Thadou tribe.
The collective interest of indigenous people of the state is undermined when a leader of the Thadou tribe is attacked. The lives of innocent people are at danger due to the complete lack of public safety in the community. TSA would like to assert that Mr. Michael and his family or the village deserves no cruel treatment or persecution from any group or individual.
On August 26, 2024, the Chief Minister of Manipur had promised to take appropriate legal action against the perpetrators of the crime and terror. However, there has not been a significant progress in the investigation thus far. This gives a bad impression to leaders and members of other indigenous communities that peace-advocating leaders in the state are being targated by Kuki militants. It also gives a negative impression that the state's law and order is in danger of being overrun by violent protesters and mob backed up by Kuki militant or Kuki supremacist groups.
In keeping with the principle of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the State, Central, and KNO that aims for peace and stability, TSA urges the cooperation of the Kuki militants that are party to the SoO pact.
Peniel village, which is under the Churachandpur police station, is located within the operational area of the KNO and is dominated by KNA, KNF-MC, KNF-S, KNF-Z, and KLA. As such, the KNO and the local civil organizations are morally responsible for the attacks. TSA hopes for a favorable response from the KNO and requests that the organization identifies the offenders and brings them to justice within a week starting today.
We wish to assert that neglecting our humble request and failing to take necessary actions will compel TSA to take additional actions that it deems appropriate in order to pursue justice in the case, restore law and order in the community.
TSA and Thadou community will not compromise but continue to lawfully fight for justice and our rights until justice is served. TSA would also like to make it clear that it shall not be held accountable for any outcome resulting from the failure to heed to our request for action for justice on the matter.
Issued by:-
(Vicky Thadou)
Spokesperson, TSA-GHQ
* This info was provided to e-pao.net by Thadou Students' Association (TSA-GHQ) who can be contacted at tsaghq(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was posted on 17 September 2024 .
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