Arrest will discourage others: Joykumar
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 14 2024:
Terming as 'unethical' the arrest of some leaders of Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF), which recently signed a peace pact with the Government of India; National People's Party (NPP) national vice-president and former DGP Manipur Yumnam Joykumar has said that such arrest would discourage other groups from coming out and sign peace agreements.
Addressing a press meet at the party's Naoremthong office, here, on Thursday, Joykumar said that NPP had welcomed initiation of peace talk with the Pambei-led UNLF.
Unfortunately, arrest of three leaders of the group including its chief of army has breached the trust of the agreement and it has potential to reaffirm the stand of other underground organisations not to join the peace process.
The former deputy chief minister pointed out that the cadres of the organisation were felicitated by the government in a grand function held at Kangla and arresting them now is creating confusion in the minds of the people.
The government should disclose the reason for their arrest.
NPP wants to know the reason behind their arrest, he said, while adding that arresting leaders of such organisations that have signed peace pacts is unethical as per international law.
He further said that neither the Central government nor the state government has disclosed the ground rules for the peace talk, which is a crucial part of any peace talk.
On the other hand, there are substantial evidences of Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement violating ground rules and yet no action has been taken up against them till date, he said.
Joykumar also said that selectively targeting Meetei-majority underground organisations will only deteriorate the current crisis in the state and demanded the Central government to release them unconditionally.
He also drew attention of the chief minister in this regard.