New armed faction MDF formed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 17 2009: A FACTION of the proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) has formed a new group called Military Defence Force (MDF).

A faction of the armed cadres who deserted the general head quarter, 1st battalion of KYKL located at an undisclosed place beyond the boundary of Manipur on June 21 last, met with a group of journalists on July 14 somewhere in Thoubal district in Manipur.

A leader of the faction, S/S Capt Rishikanta told the journalists that the group of cadres, who fled the 1st battalion, GHQ of KYKL, after killing nine persons including the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt Col, one Lt, NCO and other privates, had been accorded a warm welcome by Capt Athouba and himself.

They have also appreciated there safe arrival.

S/S Capt Rishikanta (4th from right, standing), along with cadres of the faction and arms

Rishikanta told the journalist that the faction army of KYKL has formed a new group called Military Defence Force (MDF).

The CO of MDF, Rishikanta said, the name of the group will still be KYKL.

Instead of the Meeyamgi Yawol Lanmee, army of KYKL, it will be called Military Defence Force.

There will not be any change in the letterhead of the KYKL, the previous letterhead of the party will be used, he said.

Explaining why nine colleagues of their own had been killed, Rishikanta said, member of Central Committee of KYKL Lt Col Wangba was blamed and killed.

He was murdered by a gang of outsiders who had been hired by paying a huge amount of money.

It was a cowardly act, Rishikanta said adding that Lt Col Wangba, while he was the commander of ONK, had unearthed a big scandal of mark tampering in the Manipur University, but he was projected to be on the wrong side by supreme commander N Oken by apologizising to the people through a press release.

Rishikanta further alleged that Prof Islamuddin of MU was murdered for having done right.

The right thing that he had done turned out to be antagonistic to KYKL.

Stating that it has become a land where no truth can be done and no good can be done, Rishikanta asked why people were remaining silent.

He said, supreme commander of KYKL N Oken and publicity secretary Lan-ngamba cannot get any positive result in the revolutionary movement by reading famous books of the world and then playing games.

It will rather be an attempt to create fratricidal killings.

If the KYKL gives any obstruction to the activities of the faction MDF, it will attack anyone and any organisation that has close relation with KYKL, Rishikanta warned.

Expressing that all the Yawollois (revolutionaries) are competing in extortion, he said, nobody thinks of unity.

Because the revolutionaries are disunited, the people are also disunited.

Asking why the people where afraid of the revolutionaries, Rishikanta asked if there is no courage on the part of the people to take the revolutionaries to task.

Are they not children of the people ? Will the people be able to remain as silent spectators to every decision taken by them, he asked.

The people cannot express openly since gun culture prevails in this land, Rishikanta said.

If the people can unequivocally raise voices as to "stop insurgency, we want peace," the MDF will hand over all the weapons to anyone the people wants them to, Rishikanta said.

He further said that the faction did not come out due to dispute in the leadership.

He alleged that there are several officers in KYKL who have nexus with big businessman and indulge in business rather than revolution.

The faction did not kill those nine cadres not as enemy but had to kill them in an attempt to flow down the right revolutionary stream, Rishikanta said and offered respects to the slain cadres.