Council rues atrocities against Zo people
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 14 2023:
The Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC) has said that the division of Manipur into distinct ethnic lines which began on May 3 continues unabated and the never-ending atrocities against the Zo people (Kuki-Zomi-Hmar) only highlight the collective failure of the Indian nation.
In a statement, the ZCSC said that the government's agenda of fomenting unrest at the expense of the Zo ethnic community is no longer hidden and the sudden surge in casualties on account of the changed war tactics brings the state further away from any peace initiative.
Coordinated attacks on multiple fronts with more lethality are extremely distressing and it is a serious cause of concern for national security, the ZCSC said, adding that recent incident of multiple deaths and injuries and the destruction of Zo settlements near Pallel in Tengnoupal on September 8 are glaring examples.
The ZCSC further said that the state government's arbitrary appointment of retired army man, Colonel Nectar Sanjenbam for five years as Senior Superintendent of Police (Combat) on August 28 pursuant to a decision of the state cabinet on June 12 without following any recruitment rules and the subsequent changes in the war tactics have compelled the Zo people to entirely review their trust in the competency and willingness of the state government to bring about peace and stability.
While denouncing the state government's actions, the ZCSC reaffirmed its stand for a permanent political solution and appealed to the Union government to take urgent efforts to contain crimes against the Zo ethnic population.