'It's external aggression, India ought to face it'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 18 2024: The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the June 18 Observation Committee vice-chairman Ph Nando Luwang has asserted that the protracted violence in Manipur is a result of external aggression.

Talking to media persons on the sideline of the 23rd Great June Uprising Unity Day observation at Kekrupat, Kangla this morning, Nando Luwang said that the conflict is not between two indigenous communities but a result of external aggression.

Notably, the June 18 anniversary was observed in honour of all the 18 martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause of the State's integrity on June 18, 2001 .

The anniversary function was organised by the observation committee comprising the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the United Committee Manipur (UCM) .

'It's external aggression, India ought to face it'

A large number of people gathered at the Kekrupat memorial and paid rich tributes and highest respect to all the martyrs.

The memorial function was opened with a Pena presentation followed by the unfurling of AMUCO's flag and UCM's flag.

This was followed by a Thang-Ta presentation.

AMUCO president Nando stated that the Kukis are not indigenous people of Manipur and as such, the conflict is not between indigenous peoples.

The violence is a result of external aggression and it is the Government of India's duty to check all external aggressions, he asserted.

Decrying that the Government of India was watching silently when Kukis from Myanmar invaded Manipur, Nando asked whether the Government of India would adopt a similar passive stance if Pakistan invades India through Jammu & Kashmir.

The Government of India must acknowledge that it is an external aggression, a threat to the National security, and act accordingly, he added.

Nando Luwang said that the Government of India has been employing different formulas to disintegrate Manipur.

On the other hand, the people of Manipur have been reaffirming their resolve to protect the integrity of Manipur at all costs every year at Kekrupat on June 18, Nando said.

After their previous attempts ended in failure, the Government of India is now instigating the Kuki-Zo people to break up Manipur, he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided a high-level meeting on the Manipur crisis on Monday.

All the participants of the meeting including Amit Shah himself are known very well to the people of Manipur, he continued.

Amit Shah visited Manipur on May 29, 2023 and he was informed in detail on how and who started the Manipur violence.

A very clear formula had been presented before top ranking officials of the Government of India including army officers and intelligence officers.

Prevention of poppy plantation, flushing out of Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists who came from Myanmar, identification and deportation of illegal immigrants are the working principles of this formula, Nando said.

But the Government of India has not been paying any heed to these lawful suggestions.

The sheer military might of India may be able to contain the violence but there would not be any positive peace until and unless the issues of poppy plantation, infiltration of Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists from Myanmar and illegal immigrants are addressed effectively, he asserted.

Multiplication of arms and ammunition by SoO groups must also be checked and the additional weapons must be seized, he said.

He also questioned the logic of pulling up village volunteers who were only defending innocent and helpless villagers.

It would be wrong and gross injustice if all the youth who took up arms in self defence are assumed and declared as outlaws.

The Central Government must ponder on why the youth who should be going to schools and colleges took up arms.

They were compelled to take up arms after Kuki-Zo narco-terrorists launched a deadly aggression, slaughtered many innocent people and burnt down thousands of houses, the AMUCO president asserted.

He said that any peace process should be preceded by a general amnesty to all village volunteers.

The United Committee Manipur (UCM) president and the June 18 Observation Committee chairman Joychandra Konthoujam stated that the option of pre-Merger status cannot be ruled out if the Government of India continues to toy with the idea of fragmenting Manipur.

"There is no guarantee we would not demand the pre-Merger status of Manipur if the Government of India cannot ensure the State's integrity", he said.

Joychandra Konthoujam said that the Government of India's blunder of inserting the phrase 'without territorial limits' in the ceasefire agreement signed with NSCN (IM) on June 14, 2001 sparked a massive protest movement in Manipur.

In the course of the mass movement, the State Assembly was torched, the CM's bungalow was vandalised, official quarters of many MLAs were vandalised and there were large-scale casualties, he said.

One common and singular slogan of the movement was the sanctity of Manipur's integrity, he said.

If the Government of India still has any intention to disintegrate Manipur, it will only invite a much stronger people's movement, he warned.

He asserted that the Government of India must refrain from doing anything which may challenge the integrity of Manipur.

He pointed out that Manipur was merged into the Indian Union with an assurance that the Government of India will always protect the integrity of Manipur.

There are many indigenous communities in Manipur and any attempt to create a new Manipur dominated by foreigners/outsiders is unacceptable.

That is why, the indigenous people have been demanding implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, Joychandra said.

He said that the NRC must be implemented in the State without any further delay, and all the foreigners must be identified and deported to their native countries.

Categorically stating that the Manipur violence was engineered by Kuki militants after violating SoO ground rules, he demanded immediate abrogation of SoO agreement.

After clearing vast forest areas in the hill districts, Kuki militants indulged in extensive poppy plantations.

The huge amount of money thus earned from drugs was used in procuring sophisticated weapons only to turn the barrels of their guns on the innocent citizens of Manipur, Joychandra said.

He asserted that the Kuki militants also brought in and facilitated settlement of illegal immigrants in the forest areas of Manipur.

He also decried the Government of India's attempt to pull up village defence volunteers while Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists are given a free hand.

The youth were compelled to take up arms and defend their villages because both the Central security forces and the State forces failed miserably to protect innocent villagers and their homes from the relentless onslaught of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, the UCM president said.

He then demanded the Government of India to cease all efforts to pull up village defence volunteers.

The protracted violence is a result of the relentless aggression of the combined force of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, Government of India and its military forces against the Meitei community, he alleged.

To defeat this aggression, all the indigenous people must come together and fight the war as one, he said.