Arms to Heirok villagers
Heirok reiterates stance, derides 'doubting Thomases'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 04: Objections raised by civil society organisations and former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam on the State Cabinet's decision to provide arms to people of heirok and Chajing villages have evoked sharp reaction from JAC functionaries of Heirok.

Interacting with news-persons at heirok today, JAC president Kh Ibomcha reiterated that the proposal put to the Government for supply of guns is for self protection of the people from anti-social elements and not for killing 'our own blood brothers'.

Recounting that suffering of the heirok people following multiple killings in March this year did not evoke condemnation against the perpetrators or solace to the bereaved families, Ibomcha ridiculed outbursts of these social bodies and the former CM that issuing arms would trigger bloodshed among blood brothers.

SF men on duty with barracks at one entry point to Heirok in line with the decision to arm the villagers

While asserting that people of Heirok would not tolerate atrocities committed by security forces, if any, and is prepared to face any eventualities, he also urged the UG groups to unite, rely upon certain mechanisms for justice delivery and assure that civilians would not be targeted in order to encourage the JAC reconsider its own stance on the issue.

Joining the media briefing, JAC secretary L Mandir highlighted that due to the JAC's stand against UG groups levying tax/percentage cuts of essential items supposed to be provided to the people under the Public Distribution System, people of Heirok can procure kerosene oil at Rs 10 per litre now.

He also informed that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is being pressured to do the needful for ensuring that rice under the PDS is made available at the Government-fixed rate.

Meanwhile, a JAC statement issued today insisted that demand of Heirok people to issue arms for self-protection should not be dismissed as arrogance or unjustifiable as the people have had to endure severe hardships for a long time.

Deafening silence of the civil society organisations when people of Heirok were enduring all sorts of hardships and mental trauma only to later comment that providing arms is not the right step calls for retrospection on the part of this bodies, the statement advised.

It further opined that civil society organisations might have perceived that demand for issuing guns is far fetched which the Government would never approve hence the outcries after the demand has materialised.

Directing its ire against the former CM Radhabinod Koijam, the JAC questioned how the MLA would have reacted if his own children or close relatives got killed as in the firing incident during Yaoshang festival.

Reacting to comments of Apunba Lup and UCM functionaries, the JAC opined that had these bodies condemned or reacted in the right earnest against the killings and expressed solidarity to the suffering of the people, citizens of Heirok would have accorded respect to these bodies as deserved.

While distancing themselves when disaster struck people of Heirok it is ridiculous that these organisations are opposing when the people are desirous of protecting themselves, the JAC statement maintained.

Urging the UCM to relentlessly sustain its endeavour for emotional and territorial integrity of Manipur, the JAC advised the body to focus on its agenda rather than get tangled in all issues.

Reaffirming that demands for issuing arms is for self protection, the JAC posed what is the stand of the civil society organisations on activities of cadres of armed outfits who defile the soil with blood of innocent citizens.

Establishing posts of Special Police Officers should, under no circumstances, be interpreted as intended upon taking on the fire-power of under ground organisations.

The statement also described as unfortunate the reported comment of the DGP that SPOs are being set up to counter activities of UG cadres and highlighted that such assertion of the State police chief is likely to project people of Heirok in wrong light.

People of Heirok strongly believe in living in an atmosphere of peace and security and do not harbour confrontationist attitude against anybody or organisation, the JAC statement added.