Stay away from peace panel : Core Committee
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 13 2023:
The Core Committee on Separate Administration Movement has directed that no CSOs, tribe bodies and individuals shall participate in the Peace Committee set up by the Government of India with the Governor as its Chairperson.
While welcoming the peace call of the Government of India, the core committee said that justice is the indispensable precursor to peace.
The exercise of the principles of justice and upholding of the tenets of the law of the land to protect the historical, political and human rights of the Zomi, Kuki, Hmar and Mizo communities will automatically herald peace, the core committee asserted in a statement.
"Our communities have been the long-term victims of political, social and economic injustice, oppression and exploitation as citizens of India in the State of Manipur", it said.
The present State sponsored offensive by the dominant Meitei community is the ugly manifestation of this long term subjugation and just the proverbial tip of the iceberg, it alleged.
It then reminded the Government of India and the Governor of Manipur that "peace is not just the absence of violence, but more of the presence of justice" .
Notwithstanding the fact that justice being the precursor to peace, it is deeply distressing to note that the attack on 'our villages' are continuing, arsons are on the rise, the brutal murder of innocents, women and even children are committed with impunity, it alleged.
"Our students are scattered, our Churches are burnt and sacrileged, our institutions have crumbled, our representatives are rendered powerless and voiceless", it said.
Even though peace has been an earnest desire, to talk about peace in the shadow of continued violence, exploitation and oppression is an exercise which will prove futile.
And to include N Biren Singh, the alleged main perpetrator of this violence, as a member of the Peace Committee in itself is an insult to the Zomi, Kuki, Hmar and Mizo communities, the Core Committee said.
It then appealed to the Government of India that historical, political, socio-economic and human rights of the Zomi, Kuki, Hmar and Mizo communities should prevail first so that the process of peace could be initiated.