Awake indigenes, defang narco-terrorists call reverberates as Manipur recalls May 3, 2023
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang/Imphal, May 03 2024: The first anniversary of the Kuki-Zo offensive launched on May 3, 2023 was observed at Moirang College relief camp under the banner "Day of Awakening for Indigenous People" .

There, thousands of people including youth, students and women paid floral tributes to photographs of 107 martyrs.

Speaking at the event, Yumnam Tombileima, mother of late Yumnam Jiten, said, "I feel proud of my son and others like him who paid with their lives for the cause of the motherland" .

Yumnam Jiten was one among the three people murdered in the most brutal manner by Kuki narco-terrorists on August 15, 2023 at Kwakta Ward No 8 .

Yet Tombileima expressed strong apprehension that the situation may deteriorate to that of the Seven Years Devastation.

Awake indigenes, defang narco-terrorists call reverberates as Manipur recalls May 3, 2023

She also expressed strong desire for enlistment of the Meitei community in the Constitution's ST category.

Thingom Sapana, mother of late Thingom Rocky, said that the leaders of the Government can watch the violence silently because their sons, daughters and other family members have not been harmed nor their houses torched.

Thingom Rocky was one among the 13 Meitei youths slain by Kuki narco-terrorists at a place in Tengnoupal district on December 4, 2023 .

Pukhram Sanjana, wife of Pukhram Ranbir who was killed in a fight with Kuki narco-terrorists at Kwakta Turenbal, made an earnest appeal to the Government to end the violence and spare the people of Manipur from the tragedy her family has been suffering.

Pukhram Ranbir was an IRB personnel attached to commandos.

The commemorative function was held under the aegis of the Ibudhou Thangjing Pana and its convenor Yumnam Tomba said that the silence of both the Central Government and the State Government when the situation is growing from bad to worse is highly resentful.

People displaced from the border town of Moreh observed the first anniversary of the 'Bloody May' under the banner "Kuki Invasion to the Indigenous People of Manipur" at Singjamei Keithel today.

The anniversary observation organised by the Committee on Protection of Meetei Victims (CoPMeV), Moreh was attended by a large number of displaced persons whose houses had been reduced to ashes by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists. Apart from holding a public meeting, the gathering also shouted many slogans against illegal immigrants, particularly Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists.

Speaking at the gathering, CoPMeV Moreh convenor Thangjam Budha said that the way 4700 Meiteis were driven out from Moreh by illegal Kuki immigrants from Myanmar was an act of terrorism.

On account of the acts of terrorism unleashed by illegal Kuki immigrants, all the Meitei residents of Moreh town fled to safer places on May 4, 2023 .

Most of them took refuge in the Key Location Point (KLP), located not far away from Moreh.

The Meitei families were evacuated to different places of the valley districts between May 5 and May 14 with the help of Assam Rifles, Budha said.

Some others fled to Myanmar, he added.

While one woman died due to shock, four others could not be traced till date.

Budha said that 700 of them have been taking refuge in the relief camp opened at Ideal Girls' College, Akampat.

This was not the first time illegal Kuki immigrants from Myanmar drove out Meiteis from Moreh.

There were many such incidents in the past too, he said.

He then expressed keen desire to return to their homes and resettle at Moreh.

The gathering used placards which read "Implement NRC", "Abrogate SoO", "Go back foreigners" and "Save India, Save Manipur" .

Observing the "365 Days of Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorist Aggression in Manipur", the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has resolved to prioritise issues of uncontrolled illegal immigration by updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur to effectively end the crisis.

The observation held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound also resolved that the Government of India must acknowledge and recognise the issue of narco-terrorism and its severe ramifications on the age-old ethnic harmony, economy and ecology currently faced by the indigenous people of Manipur.

"COCOMI reaffirms our demand to the Government of India to immediately declare all armed groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement as terrorist organisations in alignment with the decision taken by the Government of Manipur", reads the third resolution.

The fourth resolution says, "The Government of India must cease picking and choosing terrorist groups as 'good terrorists' and 'bad terrorists' merely to serve its vested geopolitical and internal security interests by victimising the indigenous civilian population of Manipur" .

Speaking at the gathering, COCOMI coordinator Somendro Thokchom said that it's time to question the Central Government's inability/unwillingness to take up any concrete action regarding the one-year old Manipur crisis.

Acts of narco-terrorism seen today in Manipur are not directed against the Meitei community alone but they are targeting all the indigenous communities, he said.

The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) too observed the anniversary under the banner "Revisiting the 3rd May, 2023" .

Speaking at the event, AMUCO general secretary Pratap Leishangthem said that the violent conflict was engineered by Kuki-Zo terrorists.

People need to exert strong pressure on the Government of India to put an end to the violence, resettlement of all the displaced people and initiate a comprehensive peace process, he said.

Pratap asserted that the people should demand amendment of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution by way of inserting a clause so as to thwart any challenge to the integrity of Manipur in future.

He also highlighted the urgent need for updating the NRC, establishment of a district re-organisation committee and putting an end to all attempts at creating political units based on ethnicity or community.

The AMUCO general secretary further proposed dismemberment of Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills) district, re-organisation of Bishnupur district and creation of special administrative zones at Moreh and Behiang.

He also appealed to all the people to be prepared for a stronger mass movement in order to protect the interests of united Manipur.

Pratap further underscored the importance of a comprehensive and effective crackdown on drug businesses and poppy cultivation within the territory of Manipur, and also strengthening the Manipur State Durbar resolutions of 1932 in order to protect community and reserved forests.

Remembering all the victims of the offensive launched by Kuki narco-terrorists and showing solidarity with all the people who have been living in relief camps, Federation of Civil Societies (FOCS) Manipur also organised a public convention under the banner "Ema Leibakta Shingnarakpa Numit" at Yangoiningthou Community Hall, Bishnupur.

The public convention commenced with offering of floral tributes to all the martyrs who had laid down their lives defending Manipur from Kuki narco-terrorists.

FOCS president Th Manihar said that the convention was organised to show to the future generations that indigenous peoples stood and fought collectively against all challenges to the integrity of Manipur and thus saved Manipur.

He said that it's time for all CSOs to come together and work collectively.

Taragi Cheishu observed the first anniversary of the May 3 offensive under the theme "Peace and Solidarity with the Victims of the Crisis" at Khurai Ahongei, JNIMS Road today.

Padmashree Aribam Syam Sharma, Imphal Naga Forum general secretary AS Hungpro Shimray and Manipur Human Rights Commission former Chairman Khaidem Mani graced the observation as chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively.

Highlighting the extreme misery being endured by tens of thousands of families in relief camps for the past one year since their houses were burnt down to ashes, Aribam Syam who is also an advisor of Taragi Cheishu called upon all to work collectively and see that the Central Government and the State Government resolve the crisis at the earliest.

AS Hungpro Shimray appealed to all the people to focus on building peace instead of seeking vengeance.

Meanwhile, inmates of the prefabricated house built near Sajiwa Jail for the displaced staged a sit-in protest today and urged the Government to expedite the rehabilitation process for them and let them return to their native places.

The protest demonstration was attended by displaced Meeteis from Dolaithabi, Sadu Yengkhuman, Leitanpokpi and Mairenpat.

Speaking to the media at the protest site, one of the protesters urged the Government to restore normalcy in Manipur instead of giving false assurances.

He further urged the Government to understand the plight of the displaced people and do the needful at the earliest.