Thingsat killings: Condemnations, calls for sanity continue to pour in
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15 2015 : While expressing strong concern over the reported killings of two labourers by cadres of SoO signatory insurgent group, KRF, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) has offered deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured.

CORE in a statement issued by its executive director, Dr Immanuel Z Varte and Dr D Roy Laifungbam, president of Elders' Council, also offered its deepest sympathy and condolences to those innocent victims who were injured, killed or properties burnt allegedly by protesters along NH-37 yesterday.

Further, with the possibility of the incidents taking on an ugly turn, especially when emotions are strained; lives, properties lost and people rudely shaken by brutalities, CORE fervently urged both the Kuki and the Meitei communities to remember the values of restraints, of shared histories and the bonds that knits them together.

"This is the time when we most need understanding and peaceful dialogues as brothers should," CORE said.

CORE is appalled at the irresponsible acts and inhuman callousness of KRF cadres responsible for such heinous crimes upon innocent individuals as reported.

Such acts simply cannot be excused or willed away.

It is to be understood that the Government is not the only one accountable to brutal act of human rights violations and maintenance of law and order.

Non-state actors are equally accountable.

They should also know that they are equally responsible in safeguarding and protecting peoples' rights and protecting lives.

This becomes more so especially when non-state actors like KRF comes under SoO and their expenses covered by the government through taxpayers' money.

In fact, being financially supported by the government and allowed to live in officially recorded and permitted designated camps, even the very term 'non-state' is becoming very debatable! Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Manipur has called upon all leaders of the civil societies to come out and raise their voices against communal violence and ethnic hatred in the State.

Unless the people of the State collectively fight against corrupt practices and narrow communal/ethnic politics, no amount of central forces and money can bring peace and harmony in the State, said K Zou, AAP candidate for Outer Manipur PC in the last LS election.

The All Manipur Meitei Christian Forum (AMMCF) has vehemently condemned the killings of two labourers by SoO signatory armed group, KRF.

At the same time, AMMCF in a statement issued by its general secretary, Rev Phijam Brojen Singh, has expressed dismay over the burning down of a Meitei Christian Church at Patsoi Lamkhai, the brutal killing of a person and injuring of three others by bandh supporters during a bandh imposed by the JAC formed in connection with the Thingsat killings.

It appealed to all civil society organisations leaders to help de-escalate the tension.

The AMMCF also said that targeting worship places is unwarranted while also demanding the authority concerned to monitor SoO signatory UG cadres.

Komrem Union, Manipur (NEI) has strongly condemned the killings of two labourers and alleged torturing of one minor by KRF cadres.

In a statement, K Lerthang, general secretary of Komrem Union, Manipur said that the clarification of the KRF following the killings was more hurtful than taking away the lives while appealing to all concerned to stop the practice of labelling charges against a person after killing him/her.

KRUM also condemned the killing of an innocent person and injuring two others by bandh supporters at Patsoi area.

It demanded the Govt to take appropriate steps to book the culprits involved in the incidents.

Comment