Rein-in Kuki militants: Student bodies to Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 13 2023: The Joint Body of six students' organisations of Ma - nipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Associ-ation (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpan-glup (AIMS) and another stu-dents' union has asserted that unless Kuki militants which signed So0 agreement with the government of India are controlled, it would be hard to restore normalcy in the state.

In a joint release, presidents of the student bodies informed that the unfortunate incident in Churachandpur district on May 3, was engineered by those used as bait of the deep- rooted ideoloev of divide and rule pol-icy of the government of India.

The state government is another victim of India's long running strategy to divide Manipur into pieces and dis-mantle the united strength of Manipur.

The governments of India and Manipur should be held responsibility for the unwanted incidents, the re-lease asserted.

The Joint Body continued that influx of illegal immigrants into the state has neither been checked and monitored by the Indian law nor government of India and Manipur accorded seriousness to the unnatural increase of population in the hill areas, formation of new villages, massive deforestation leading to various environ-mental problems and plan-tation of poppy in large scale.

Instead of protecting the bor-ders, the government turned a blind eye to the influx of the illegal immigrants and implementation of NRC in the state, it alleged.

"The clash between the communities which want-ed to protect the indigenous people and those who nurture the illegal immigrants and destruction of the unity of the people of the state is a well-planned strategy of the government of India," it said.

The Joint Body further claimed that government of India is also assisting the Kuki militants who they have signed the So0 agree-ments with and waging war against the indigenous Meetei community.

This has caused many deaths and losses.

The public are now aware with evidence and witnesses that the Assam Rifles are help-ing the Kuki militants.

This is simply putting the agenda of the government to destroy the indigenes of Manipur into action, it claimed and further maintained that first it was the attempt to wipe Meeteis and then other ethnic com-munities and eventually entire Manipur.

Considering the evolving situation, it's crucial to pave the path through which the people can determine their own future, it conveyed.

The release pointed out that small indigenous Meetei com-munity has been deeply im-pacted by influx of foreigners with the government of India further aggravating the situa-tion.

The valley is surrounded by camps of Kuki militants.

The Meeteis are facing an ex-istential threat and the ques-tion is who will protect them.

Kuki So0 groups have violated ceasefire ground rules such as not bearing arms and not indulging in violence, etc., and the central government has been letting them do it freely for long time.

The Joint Body noted that Kuki militants bred by the centre took part in a peace rally with arms and insti-gated riot.

They opened fire at Meetei villages killing in-nocent civilians and torched many houses along with kill-ing security personnel.

The question is why the centre has not made any attempt to control the Kuki militants even after state government withdrew the SoO, it posed.

"We demand that camps of Kuki militants located near the valley should be re-moved urgently and appeal for seizing all their guns.

The Government of India should withdraw the SoO, seize their weapons and take immediate action against them according to law," it said.

The release further urged the government to publicly issue its stance and no group or organisations should take sides, start blame game and pull the victim card, while adding, "We appeal to all to take up concerted effort to build peaceful and harmo-nious Manipur" .

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