UKLF clarifies stand on KNLF camp fiasco
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 21 2014 : Reacting to a press statement of KNLF published in local dailies on May 21, UKLF clarified that it never forced or pressurized anybody to oppose setting up of KNLF camp at Semol village.

In a statement issued its Info & Publicity Secy JM.

Thadou today, UKLF pointed out that people raised their objection against setting up the camp for the reason that installing two unfriendly armed groups in the same area would certainly disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the area, and contended that the opposition from the public was right from the start.

Of course, UKLF on its own expressed its strong dislike over setting up of KNLF camp right from the beginning not for something else but for the sake of peace and tranquility in the area and thereby approved the standpoint of the public, the statement added.

Recalling that the KNLF had surrendered to the state govt last year, it claimed that KNLF is a non SoO group which should not be treated at par with other SoO groups.

Surrendered groups are not entitled to designated camps and even if they are to be given, they must be affiliated or attached to the umbrella organization, the statement pointed out, adding that KNLF is under the KNO and they should be attached with KNO camp.

Indeed surrender groups are supposed to be housed in security forces camps and to be used at will by the later whereas SoO groups have proper guidelines and ground rules and not at all par with the surrenderees, the UKLF statement maintained.

It appealed to media houses and general public to differentiate between the two and designate them separately while writing or addressing.

Today it is a known fact that extorting and serving demand notes and other anti-social activities are mostly committed by these surrendered groups, it continued.

Charging that KNLF has already started extorting money and sending demands to truckers and saw mills in Khengjoi sub-division, the statement said that this kind of harassment to the people is what it never likes.

UKLF, right from the beginning, supported the public in raising their voice against planting of new armed groups in the area for the sake of peace.

Large part of the district, particularly Khengjoi sub-division, had been battle fields for the last many years and now a resemblance of peace is restored and UKLF would not let anything that could jeopardise the hard earned peace in the district, the statement made it clear.

It also urged the govt to acquire the prior consent from the chief who is the owner of the land before setting up any camp for any group.

"We are in a democratic country and nobody has the authority to force anybody to donate land for constructing designated camp.

If the intention of the govt is to establish real peace, it should pay heed to the voice of the public and not to be misled", UKLF insisted.

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