Central Govt, Central forces accused of complicity in Kuki offensive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2024: Alleging that the ongoing violence targeting the Meitei com-munity is a combined offensive of the Central Government, Central forces and Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, the Great June Uprising Unity Day observation committee has asked the State Government to announce its position with regard to the offensive.

Speaking to media persons at Kekrupat this morning ahead of the 23rd anniversary of the Great June Uprising Unity Day, the observation committee chairman Joychandra Konthou-jam said that civil society organisations informed the Government about the movement of Chin-Kuki terrorists toward Jiribam much before violence broke out in Jiribam.

Central Govt, Central forces accused of complicity in Kuki offensive

Even though the Chief Minister's office gave prior information to the Security Advisor as well as the DGP about the movement of terrorists to Jiribam, they did not take up any security measures.

As a result, innocent civilians were murdered and more than 70 houses were burnt down, Joychandra said.

It is now very clear that the Security Advisor and the DGP were responsible for the violence in Jiribam district and the resulting large scale displacement, he asserted, and added that they must step down from their respective positions.

"Manipur is home to several communities and our position is very clear that no bigger community should try to assimilate smaller communities within their fold", he continued.

However, there are reports that the Kom people settled to the western side of Leimaram and some other places have been put under immense pressure to insert the word 'Kuki' in their Aadhaar cards.

Such policy of assimilation must be stopped imme- diately, Joychandra said.

Many Koms who have inserted 'Kuki' in their Aadhaar cards under pressure are now unable to go to Imphal in the midst of the offensive launched by Kuki narco-terrorists, he said.

As such, there is an urgent need to remove the word 'Kuki' from the Aadhaar cards of non-Kuki tribes.

There is a set of rules for protection and management of forests.

All deforestation activities, establishment of villages within forest areas and poppy plantation after clearing forest lands must be put to an end immediately, Joychandra said.

He said that massacre of innocent people and burning down houses cannot be tolerated, and all terrorists must be uprooted from the soil of Manipur.

As the terrorists have been indulging in all kinds of unlawful activities, there is little room for dialogue with them.

The Government must crush and teach them a befitting lesson.

The manner the State Government has been handling the protracted crisis is far from satisfactory.

The State Government must announce its position and stand on the issue to the public, he demanded.

He also appealed to one and all to come to Kekrupat on June 18 and pay homage to the martyrs at their memorial.

Observation committee vice-chairman Nando Luwang said that the Great June Uprising Unity Day anniversary reaffirms the people's commitment to protect the integrity of Manipur at all costs, under all circumstances.

He accused the Government of India of scheming to disintegrate Manipur by using Kukis as mercenaries.

The Government of India's prompt appointment of a retired officer as Security Advisor to the State Government a day after the violence erupted on May 3, 2023 only testified that New Delhi had foreknowledge of the crisis and it was prepared for the same, Nando said.

On May 31, the Government of India stripped the Chief Minister of the post of Unified Command Chairman and the same post was handed over to the Security Advisor.

But the Security Advisor has achieved nothing to control the violence, he remarked.The Government of India is answerable regarding who is supplying limitless arms and ammunition including explosives to the Kuki-Zo militants at a time when the Governments of both Bangladesh and Myanmar have launched extensive crackdown against them, he said.