Manipur crisis matter of national security: Meitei Leepun
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 19 2023: The present crisis in the state is not an ethnic violence between Meetei and Kuki but a matter of national security arising out of the homeland demand raised by some Kuki illegal immigrants, according to Meitei Leepun Addressing a press meet here on Friday, Leepun pres-ident M Pramot said that both Meetei and Indians are not aware of the true reason behind the present crisis in the state.

While contending that the restive situation is due to fail-ure on the part of the govern-ment to check influx of illegal immigrants since the 1980s, president Pramot reiterated that the clash was triggered by the homeland demand raised by Kuki illegal immigrants, who even grabbed opportuni-ties and facilities of the native tribes of the state.

Manipur crisis matter of national security: Meitei Leepun

He said that these illegal im-migrants have even settled in forest areas (known as Uyok) preserved by Meeteis located in the foothill areas and they are claiming these forest areas as their ancestral land in almost all parts of the state.

As they have no income source, they resorted to drug trafficking severely affecting the Manipuri society.

Meitei Leepun was formed to take up the matter as the government failed to address the same, he said.

The intention of the illegal immigrants got derailed as the chief minister N Biren led gov-ernment took up initiatives to protect/restore reserved forest areas, update National Register of Citizens and declared war against drugs under its War on Drugs mission.

They took the opportunity of the ST demand raised by Meeteis and solidarity march organised by ATSUM against the ST demand, and started attacking Meetei popu-lation, vandalising and burning homes of Meeteis by mobs and armed Kuki militants.

This led to retaliation by Meetei and it went out of control to become an al-out clash.

Meitei Leepun simply placed their confidence to CM Biren for the initiatives his government took up and it is unfortunate that some sec-tions of the society are trying to discredit the organisation by claiming it as an agent of CM Biren, the president explained.

Pramot reiterated that the organisation believes in CM Biren but it has no connection or relation with the CM.

He further said that the in-digenous people of Manipur are just starting to express their pent-up resentment of around four decades and the situation is just the tip of the iceberg.

Meitei Leepun is minutely monitoring the situation in the foothill villages, where Meetei civilians are defending their villages and properties against all odds.

Moreover, the organisation is also pro-viding assistance to all the 33 recognised indigenous/native tribes of the state affected by the restive situation, he added.

Claiming that the present crisis in the state is a matter of national security, he enquired if government intelligence agencies do not submit any report in this regard.

He also enquired why the Central gov-ernment is remaining silent if they are aware of the situation.

The situation will continue to persist for an extended peri-od and the displaced people cannot stay forever in relief camps.

It is time for the natives to learn to live their lives amid the crisis.

The government should also understand that for Meeteis, it is a matter of survival, he added.