KSO seeks Union Home Minister's intervention to halt 'construction activities of NSCN-M' in Chassad land
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, August 30 2018: The Kuki Students' Organization-General Headquarters apprised the Union Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in connection with the alleged ongoing construction activities of NSCN-IM at Chassad village land and sought immediate intervention of the Government to halt the said construction works immediately.

The apex student body of the Kukis submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju today demanding immediate intervention of the Government alleging that the NSCN-IM has illegally and forcibly started constructing houses.

The memorandum signed by Paotinthang Lupheng, president, KSO General Headquarters and Thanglalson Baite, general secretary, KSO General Headquarters, a copy of which was also sent to Manipur Chief Minister and Interlocutor of Indo-Naga Peace Talks, RN Ravi alleged the NSCN-IM of encroaching on the land of Chassad Kuki and forcibly building houses for its workers despite strong opposition put up by the Chassad Kuki village.

It said that the land in question belongs to Chassad village since the past many generations and the village has unquestionable rights to the land, which have been proven in Courts of law many times before.

"It seems the NSCN IM have become emboldened to indulge in such act of aggression on Kuki villagers with the prospect of finalization of the Framework Agreement.

And this is one of the reasons why the Kukis have viewed the Framework Agreement with suspicion and fear.

The Framework Agreement has become a tool for the NSCN-IM to initiate policy of subjugation against any adversary," alleged KSO.

"The recent act of aggression on defenseless Kuki villagers was conveyed to the State Government by the Kuki Chiefs of the area and the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) successively.

However no visible action has been taken up by the State Government to stop the construction activities," asserted KSO.

The memorandum of the KSO also alleged that the "use of force and intimidation" by the NSCN-IM has rendered the Kuki villagers as silent spectators while the "NSCN-IM cadres in a show of bravado sometimes detained Kuki villagers and subjected them to harsh interrogations".

It alleged that the NSCN-IM had summoned the Kuki Chiefs and "forced" them to append their signatures on "blank sheets of paper".

Alleging NSCN-IM threatened the villagers, KSO in its memorandum said that the NSCN-IM's acts have brought fear and apprehension among the villagers that they (villagers) are afraid of approaching the police and Court.

Stating that the prevailing situation and sense of insecurity are not conducive for peace and harmony, it said that many people have started to feel the same sense of fear and trepidation that existed at the start of the 90's ethnic conflict.

Stating that the issue of the Chassad villagers over the particular land has the potential to escalate into something bad or worst, the KSO appealed the Centre to intervene and halt the alleged construction works.

"The Government could be held totally responsible for not taking the right action at the right time," it cautioned.

It advised the Government to ascertain owner of the land in question and take all necessary measures to solve the matter.

KSO will be compelled to "take its own course of action" if the Government failed to intervene and settle the matter to the satisfaction of Chassad Kuki village, cautioned the memorandum.

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