We will not remain silent, asserts LNC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2023: Condemning in the strongest term the burning down of a Liangmai Naga family's house along with four Meitei houses at Leimakhong Chingmang last night, the Liangmai Naga Council-Eastern Zone (LNC-EZ) has asserted that they would not remain silent.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press club here this afternoon, LNC-EZ chairman N Loveson Chawang pointed out that Leimakhong Chingmang is inhabited by Meiteis, Nagas as well as Kukis.

The way Kuki militants burnt down Akhon Abonmei's house with full knowledge that it belonged to a Naga family is highly condemnable.

He went on to ask how innocent civilians would survive when armed Kuki militants are allowed to unleash terror despite the presence of a large military personnel including the 57 Mountain Division in the area.

We will not remain silent, asserts LNC

He further asked whether the security and military personnel were enjoying the scene of destruction and horror.

Blaming both the Central Government and the State Government, Loveson Chawang pointed out that there has been no let up to the acts of killing and arson even though the crisis is more than 45 days old.

He then urged both the Centre and the State Government to work sincerely toward restoration of peace and normalcy in the State.

There would not be peace without dialogue.

The Meiteis and the Kukis should talk and the Nagas may step in as a third party, he said.

"We will not remain silent to the burning down of a Liangmai Naga's house.

We will not let the culprits go scot-free",the LNC-EZ chairman said.

He then appealed to both the Kukis and the Meiteis not to touch Naga people's houses.

If any more Naga houses are harmed, there will be serious repercussions, he warned.

Akhon Abonmei, whose house was burnt down last night, said that the Nagas are not a party to the Meitei-Kuki conflict but have been living peacefully.

"We have been living together in harmony with all the communities and we believed that neither Meiteis nor Kukis would set our houses on fire", Akhon Abonmei said.

"But armed Kukis came and burnt down my house last night" she said.

She then asked as to why the security forces remained mute spectators when her house was burnt down by Kuki militants and their supporters.

Posters were posted on all the Liangmai Naga houses of Leimakhong Chingmang clearly indicating that they belong to the Liangmai Nagas but the Kukis tore the posters, she said.

Both Kukis and Meiteis know that there are Liangmai Naga families in the area.

If the armed Kukis who burnt down five houses last night were outsiders, they could have burnt Kuki houses too but not a single house of the Kukis were damaged, Akhon Abonmei said.

"My house was burnt down fully knowing that it belonged to a Liangmai Naga family" she said.