ZUF vows to avenge Obed's killing
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 22 2023:
Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of its Maikuiluanggi Region Regional Tenki Officer (RTO) Obed Kamei by NSCN (IM), terming it as a challenge to the group, and vowed to give a befitting response.
In a statement, ZUF general secretary A Riamroi, Obed Kamei was captured by NSCN (IM) cadres and murdered and buried at Dailong village, Tamenglong district on July 20 .
This barbaric act by IM of capturing an individual from a village and burying him in another village is not only against the law of the land but also against the customary practice.
This could only be taken as a challenge to the Front and also against the political movement of the Zeliangrong people.
ZUF is part of the Naga society, formed in the common interest of Nagas living in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and other areas.
The Front had released many NSCN (IM) cadres in the past, in respect of the appeals made by the people.
However, it would be wrong to assume that ZUF's consideration of the people as a sign of weakness.
Stating that mindless flare-up of violence could lead to failure of the political talk between the Front and the Government of India, it urged the NSCN (IM), which is in a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India, to stop targeting the Naga brethren, particularly Zeliangrong community to divert and suppress the political issue.
ZUF then stated Obed Kamei's brutal killing would not be in vain and it will give an exact response to the same, while praying for Obed's departed soul to rest in peace and sharing the grief of the bereaved family.
On the other hand, All Zeliangrong Students' Union-As-sam Manipur & Nagaland (AZ-SU-AMN) strongly condemned the brutal killing of Lt Diguplung alias Obed Kamei s/o of Phianku-ri Kamei of Rangkhung village, Noney and regional chairman, Maikuiluanggi Region of ZUF.
In a press release issued Saturday, AZSU-AMN said that NSCN (IM) cadres captured Obed Kamei on July 19 and his body recovered from Dailong village, Tamenglong district on July 20.This cold-blooded act is not acceptable and brought disgrace to the Naga society, while also breaking the trust of the people, especially the killing Zeliangrong communities.
The release further condemned the culture of internecine within the Naga communities, mainly targeting Zeliangrongs.
The suppression of Zeliangrong by NSCN (IM) has nothing to do with Naga political struggle and aspiration but will create only more trust deficit.
Zeliangrong communities have played a key role in the Naga political struggle and always been part of the Naga political issue.
The demand of the Zeliangrong people to live under a single administrative roof is neither interfering nor disturbing the Naga national issue, rather it is part and parcel of the Naga issue.
Thus, it urged NSCN (IM) to give logical explanation for the killing of Obed Kamei, while appealing to all Naga organisations and various insurgency groups concerned, particularly NSCN (IM) to understand the political aspiration of the Zeliangrong people.
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