Memorandum to PM seeks abrogation of So0 pact
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 20 2023: Meetei Society, Chu-rachandpur and Meetei Youth Organisation, Churachand-pur jointly submitted a mem-orandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding abrogation of Suspension of Operation (So0) agreement signed with Kaki militants, along with presenting de-tailed account of the com-munal conflict in the state, which they called as man-made disaster affecting tens of thousands of people.

In the memorandum, the two bodies said that the present conflict was ignited when Kuki civilians and mili-tants started torching several Meetci houses in Torbung Bangla area in the aftermath of the 'so-called' Tribal Soli-darity March on May 3 partic-ipated by many brandishing sophisticated firearms.

The violence was a meticulous-ly planned and coordinated strategy orchestrated in Kuki dominated areas of Manipur for the creation of Kukiland - a new state exclusively for Kukis and its kindred tribes whose major chunk of the population are illegal immi-grants from Myanmar.

Maintaining that the con-flict is neither between tribals and non-tribals nor between Christians and Hindus but between militant-backed Kukis and Meetei civilians, the memorandum also as-serted that it is not at all re-lated with the ST demand of Meeteis but an outcome of the state government's crack-down on illegal immigrants, eviction of encroachers from reserved/protected forests, War on Drugs, destruction of large scale poppy plantations and the growing demand for implementation of NRC in Manipur.

Stating that certain policies of the government in carrying out its constitutional obligations made Kuki population nervy, the memo-randum said that instead of carrying out peaceful and democratic protests against the government, the Kukis resorted to violence and arson by targeting the innocent Meetei civilians.

Security personnel deployed to control the situation have become sitting ducks for Kuki militants.

Since May 3, two personnel have been martyred at the hands of Kuki militants and scores injured.

Abrogation of So0 signed with Kuki mil-itants is a prerequisite if peace is to be re-stored, the two bodies maintained, adding that violence has ebbed considerably in the valley areas.

Unfortunately Kuki militants' persistent attacks on innocent Meetei villages have become a big hurdle in restoring peace and normalcy.

State's security advisor Kuld-iep Singh has on record admitted that many cadres and arms have been found missing from some designated camps of the militants under SoO, the memo pointed out.

Maintaining that the call for setting up of a new administrative unit is at the behest of certain illegal immigrants whose narco-ter-rorism network has infiltrated the political establishment of Manipur, the memorandum stated that the antecedents and backgrounds of certain Kuki legislators warrant investiga-tion by reputed agencies.

It also added that Manipur's territorial integrity is sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

They further appealed to the Prime Minis-ter to use whatever means and resources at the Central government's disposal to stop the ongoing demolition of Meetei houses in Churachandpur using heavy machineries like JCB and explosive materials to obliterate every remaining structure and landmarks in Meetei colonies of Churachandpur district.

"The ongoing demolition, we feel, is an attempt to wipe out every traces and histo-ry of Meetei settlement in Churachandpur, who happened to be minority Hindus and are economically, socially and politically backward," it added.

They further urged for swift arrangements for a secure and compact new settlement of all displaced people staying in relief camps until a permanent solution is brought.

They also ratsed the demand for adequate com-pensation to all the displaced minority Meetei people of Churachandpur where about 1263 houses, each having sacred sites of their indigenous God Sanamahi, have been burnt and destroyed; 8341 people including women and children displaced and made refugees in their own land; and 10 Umanglai temples desecrated and demolished.

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