'Will not remain mute spectators'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 21 2023:
With reference to the burning down of a Liangmai Naga house at Leimakhong Chingmang village on June 18 by Kukis, various Liangmai organisations asserted on Wednesday that they will not remain mute spectators.
Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR-M) or Liangmai Students' Union, Liangmai Pui Naga Ruangdi (LPNR) or Liangmai Women Union and Liangmai Naga Ruangdi (LNR), the apex organisation of Liang- mai Nagas of Nagaland and Manipur, strongly condemned the June 18 incident of the Liangmai house torched by Kukis.
In a statement, LNR said that it is unfortunate to learn that on June 18 midnight, Kukis burnt down a Naga house at Leimakhong with full knowledge that the house belonged to a Naga family and vandalised the two gates at Leimakhong, belonging to Nagas.
"It is to mention that despite the presence of a large military personnel and burning houses in front of the main gate of 57th Mountain Division, Army HQ, Leimakhong, where hundreds of thousands of central forces are stationed, these military forces remain a mute spectator to the attack perpetrated by Kukis.
Now, our lives and properties are not safe.
Besides, the role of military and central forces in conflict-torn areas in the state cannot remain unquestioned," LNR added.
The Liangmai apex body then said that torching and vandalism of houses and gates belonging to Nagas at Leimakhong were not isolated cases.
"It may be mentioned that despite warnings, Kukis had forcefully built war bunkers and makeshifts within the jurisdiction of a Naga village called K Lungwiram.
In addition,, during the clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis, K Lungwiram was deliberately targeted a few weeks ago and fired upon by Kukis in-spite of knowing that it is a Naga village so as to create fear psychosis amongst the Nagas in the areas," LNR further stated.
LNR also said that in-spite of knowing the Nagas' neutral stand in the ongoing conflict Kukis have been involved in waylaying and carrying out frisking and checking the Liangmai Nagas.
"Despite repeated warnings, Kukis have been harassing Liangmai Naga travellers or commuters on National Highway-2, Leimakhong areas including IT-Road.
The Liangmai Naga organisations will not remain mute spectators," it warned.
Meanwhile, both LNKR-M and LPNR stated that Konsakhul villagers with specific peripheral had allotted land to the Kukis to settle for a certain period in the areas.
"However, Kukis taking advantage and creating continuous ruckus to Konsakhul villagers merit questioning.
The Kukis not only intentionally burnt the Liangmai Naga house even after they noticed the placard pasted on the gate as Liangmai Naga but even tore down another gate mentioned as Liangmai Naga in Leimakhong area," the bodies stated.
They also mentioned that the Liangmai Naga tribe is one of the majority tribes among the Nagas and a peace loving community.
The Liangmai organisations then demanded that stringent actions be taken against the Kukis and justice should be delivered only through the Naga highest customary laws by the Naga apex body.