SDSA halts essential goods supply to Kuki-Zo areas
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 22 2024:
Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), the apex student body in Senapati district, has stopped supply of essential commodities to Kuki-Zo areas from Saturday.
This decision comes in response to recent incidents of torching a loaded truck by Kuki miscreants and ongoing disturbances along the highway.
In a press statement issued on Friday, SDSA declared a ban on supplying commodities to Kuki-Zo areas, citing these incidents as reasons for their action.
Volunteers began announcing the decision in Senapati's main market using loudspeakers later in the evening, urging compliance with the student body's directive.
In response to recent violence and escalating tensions, Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) has announced an immediate embargo on the supply of goods and commodities to the Kuki-Zo areas within its jurisdiction.
This move, effective immediately, will prohibits all individuals, businesses, and firms within Senapati from engaging in any commercial transactions or trade with the Kuki-Zo community, a statement of SDSA said.
In the statement, SDSA explained that this stringent measure follows a serious incident that happened in the night of June 19, when Kuki miscreants set a truck on fire within Senapati district, just below Tumuyon Khullen.
SDSA has condemned this act of arson as a direct affront to its authority and a significant threat to the safety and well-being of all communities in the region.
SDSA lamented that despite previous appeals for peace and neutrality, its hospitality, patience, and understanding have been met with aggression.
The SDSA statement emphasised that their prior call on June 3, urging all concerned parties to refrain from hindering vehicular movements along National Highway 2 (NH-2) and to maintain the highway as a safe zone free from harassment, has been completely ignored by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU).
This disregard for their plea has led to the imposition of embargo as a necessary response to protect the interests of the Senapati community.
Furthermore, SDSA has highlighted the urgency of taking immediate and stringent actions to prevent any further escalations of tension and to safeguard the interests of all communities.
As per the resolution adopted at the 2nd Federal Assembly held at Neiramphung (Tumnoupokpi) on June 20, SDSA will not be held accountable for any eventualities that befall the Kuki-Zo community within Senapati.
The responsibility for any adverse outcomes rest solely with the CoTU and its subordinates.
No goods or commodities will be permitted to be supplied to the Kuki-Zo areas from Senapati or any other sources within the jurisdiction of SDSA.
This embargo is deemed a necessary measure in response to the aggression and to protect the interests of the Senapati community, the statement said.
All commercial transactions, business dealings, or trade with the Kuki-Zo community by individuals, businesses, or firms within Senapati are strictly prohibited.
This prohibition extends to all forms of economic interactions and transactions, the statement added.
SDSA maintained that the directive has been issued in the interest of maintaining peace, order, and the safety of all communities in the region, and urged all parties to comply strictly with this directive and to act responsibly and considerately to avoid further conflict.