Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 11 2008:
On the statement made by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the State Assembly yesterday, the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) which is under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with the State and Central Governments has made certain clarifications.
Talking to media persons at a location in Sugnu area today, UKLF's department of information and publicity secretary James Bond Thadou asserted that UKLF neither violated SoO ground rules nor involved in fertilizer smuggling.
Proposing to the Chief Minister and the DGP to conduct a proper investigation into the fertilizer scam so as to establish the facts and circumstances, James Bond asserted that the disclosure about an IRB Jamadar escorting the fertilizer laden trucks to Moreh was made by IRB personnel themselves.
The Chief Minister and the DGP were fully aware of the IRB Jamadar escorting the trucks loaded with fertilizer, he alleged.
Saying that the Chief Minister and the DGP have been accusing the UKLF, the outfit remarked that it was unfortunate for the 24 lakh people of Manipur that such a man has been elected leader of the State.
Going from Pallel to Molnom, there is a gorge about 4 kms away.
The area up to this gorge is under the jurisdiction of UKLF, he claimed.
There is no need to provide escort to any vehicle within this small area under its jurisdiction.
Noting that the Government was unable to take up any action when these fertilizer laden trucks crossed several check-posts all along the way from Imphal, James Bond asked whether the Government is mulling to take up action against UKLF instead.
On Sunday last, three Shaktiman trucks fully loaded with fertilizers moved from Molnom past the Saivom IRB post, Tengnoupal AR post and the Khudengthabi AR post.
The three Shaktiman trucks were being taken by a former cadre of KNA namely Lamthang Haokip, James Bond alleged while questioning as to why the two Assam Rifles posts did not intercept the vehicles.
He further called upon the Government to investigate whether the Assam Rifles were involved in smuggling fertilizer to Myanmar or not.
The Chief Minister and the DGP were making charges against UKLF knowing all these facts, the outfit countered.
As the SoO ground rules have been enforced, the UKLF would welcome any enquiry into the scam either from the Joint Monitoring Group or the State Government.
Claiming that non-involvement of UKLF in smuggling fertilizer to Myanmar has been established, James Bond appealed to hand over its four arrested cadres along with arms and ammunition to the Joint Monitoring Group at the earliest.