Manipur Assembly never ratified merger agreement: PREPAK-II
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 09 2024:

(continued from previous issue) .

Aheiba Angom's goodwill message further said that the ongoing crisis in Manipur has reached unprecedented levels, and the reality of external aggression is now widely acknowledged.

Under Article 355 of the Constitution, it is the central government's responsibility to protect any Iridian state from external aggression or internal disturbance.

Despite this provision, the Central government has yet to take decisive action to address the crisis.

As a result of this delay, citizens have been compelled to step into the role of Khun Ngakpa (Village Volunteers), risking their lives in accordance with the Constitution's fundamental duties to protect the state from Kuki-Zo militants who are threatening the lives, property, and dignity of the people.

However, while these Khun Ngakpas, who are making immense sacrifices for the safety of their communities, are being indiscriminately arrested and jailed, the Kuki-Zo militants, who blatantly violate the laws of the land, are being set free without consequence.

Recently, in Kwakta, three civilians were beheaded in their sleep, and later in September, another civilian was shot dead while asleep in his home in Jiribam by Kuki-Zo militants.

In Imphal West, a young married woman was killed in Koutruk due to drone bombings and sniper fire.

Additionally, in Moirang, a civilian lost his life to a long-range rocket attack approximately 7 km away, also perpetrated by*Kuki-Zo militants.

These acts violate the International Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted in 1997 and ratified by India on September 22, 1999.They also fall under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), invoking serious legal consequences.

According to the SAARC Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism (1987) and the SAARC Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism Act (1997) enacted by India, the Kuki-Zo militant groups responsible for these terrorist acts may be designated as terrorist organisations, leading to a prohibition of all their activities.

The political armed opposition groups, which are fighting for the restoration of Manipur's lost sovereignty, adhere to the Geneva Conventions, International Humanitarian Law, and International Human Rights Law.

Despite this, India periodically labels these groups as outlawed and terrorist organisations.

In contrast, the Chin-Kuki-Zo militant groups involved in such activities are not designated as terrorists dr outlawed by India, allowing them to operate with impunity, protected by a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.

Continuing his goodwill message on the occasion of 47th raising anniversary, interim chairman Aheiba Angom said the issue of Kangleipak (Manipur) is currently under the purview of the Supreme Court of India, which may invoke Article 142 of the Constitution to take up a suo moto case regarding the situation and advise the Government of India.

However, this action has not yet been taken.

In the case of Kangleipak, the apex court has become a suppressive institution rather than delivering justice, resulting in complete failure of the judiciary.

According to Aheiba Angom, Kuki-Zo militant groups should not be classified as insurgents.

Their approach mirrors that of the Indian armed forces, engaging in hybrid warfare against the political and military opposition in Kangleipak.

Both the Indian army and Kuki-Zo militants share identical political and military objectives regarding the Kangleipak people.

Together, they launch lethal attacks on unarmed civilians, whether in organised groups or from a distance.

The actions of these Kuki terrorists violate Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to life for citizens who face constant threats of hostage-taking.

By failing to protect civilians, Indian leaders and their Kuki-Zo militant counterparts may one day face prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for breaches of International Criminal Law.

The actions of the Kuki terrorists are subject to scrutiny under International Criminal Law, and the potential for prosecution by the ICC is based on established principles from previous cases.

While maintaining that the situation in Kangleipak is being drawn parallels to prior conflicts in Yugoslavia and Rwanda, raising the possibility of establishing an international tribunal to address war crimes in Manipur, Aheiba said the people of Kangleipak may now look to the United Nations and the ICC prosecutor to advocate for the establishment of an International Criminal Tribunal to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes in Manipur.

In Kangleipak, India is embroiled in a proxy war, with increasing calls for assistance as Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces criticism for neglecting Manipur but addressing the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza.

As Modi assesses the situation between Russia and Ukraine and emphasises on halting the conflict, the plight of Kangleipak appears to be overlooked amid these global challenges.

The consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war are being felt in Kangleipak, leading to rising tensions and raising the question of why Modi has not visited Manipur to address the ongoing 16-month crisis.

How can India, while asserting itself as a champion of human rights, navigate its position in the UN Security Council alongside Germany, Japan, Brazil, and other African nations advocating for permanent membership? The geopolitical landscape in Kangleipak is increasingly-shaped by the overlapping interests of India and China, particularly against the backdrop of the proxy war involving India and the Kuki-Zo in Manipur.

Aheiba Angom said Indo-Pacific region has emerged as a focal point of strategic interest.

Within this context, the US, Japan, Australia, and India have united in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) to counter China's supremacy and claims to 90 percent of the South China Sea.

By bypassing the Malacca Strait, China's efforts to establish a land route to the Indian Ocean present strategic challenges to both the US and India.

The US is eyeing the possibility of establishing an airbase in this region, which could alert both China and India.

This scenario may become more viable if the Kuki-Chin-Zo people realise their aspiration for Zalen'gam, a Christian state that could facilitate a permanent US airbase between India and China, thereby influencing the balance of power in the region.

China's growing influence in Myanmar has drawn the attention of the US, which also has strategic interests in the region.

Several key factors are in play.

The western part of Myanmar, bordering Bangladesh and India, has become crucial for China as it seeks to establish a permanent sphere of influence.

China has bolstered ties with Myanmar's military government, the junta, and various influential armed political groups, positioning itself as a dominant player in the country's political landscape.

For India, balancing the US interests while countering China's expanding influence presents a significant challenge in this complex regional dynamic.

In Myanmar'sChin State, as well as in Rakhine state and the Sagaing division, there are 60 sub-tribes of the Chin people.

Their communities extend not only into Arunachal Pradesh but also across India's entire north-eastern region.

Beyond India, these tribes inhabit the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh as well.

India has strategic reasons to work closely with these tribes.

India consistently relies on the Chin people in Myanmar to counter the pressure from north-eastern armed opposition groups that refuse to engage in negotiations.

Furthermore, India has made efforts to strengthen ties with Chin insurgents and to launch joint military campaigns against these north-eastern groups.

While India is pushing hard to bring these groups to the negotiating table, it is simultaneously working to contain and neutralize them.

While paying lip service to peace, Kangleipak has seen the rise of government-sponsored organisations that now intimidate the public whenever discussions of peace between the Kuki-Zo and Meetei communities arise.

It is becoming increasingly clear that this war-like situation is a deliberate creation of the government, escalating into sporadic armed campaigns that appear destined to continue until the Kanglei people face complete destruction.

With the conflict dragging on for nearly two years since May 3, 2023, it raises an important question: what is the point of India sending peace keeping forces to other global conflict zones while allowing Kangleipak to bum? If the Indian government cannot manage the situation in Kangleipak, it should consider recalling its peacekeepers from abroad and abandon its aspirations of becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

In such circumstances, the international community should reconsider its support for India.

The ongoing struggle of the people of Kangleipak (Manipur) surpasses the battles of the past.

While earlier wars were fought against visible enemies, the current conflict is far more intricate, involving covert operations and proxy wars, often fuelled by external interests.

This makes the struggle multifaceted, both on external and internal fronts.

Concluding his goodwill message, Aheiba Angom said: "We are not merely surviving - we are resolutely fighting with determination.

PREPAK firmly believes that our fight is fundamentally against India, whose colonial oppression is at the root of our suffering.

The only path to freedom from this subjugation is to unite in a collective struggle to liberate Kangleipak from India by breaking the chains of imposed domination" .

(Concluded) .

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