Stand of CDS, silence on SoO lampooned
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2023:
The silence of Amit Shah on the demand for abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan terming the present violent conflict as "primarily ethnic and not counter-insurgency" have elicited strong condemnation from different quarters.
While Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) sees Shah's silence on SoO as a signal allowing the violence perpetrated by Kuki militants to continue and prolong the conflict, it said the CDS statement was misleading and inaccurate that contradicts the ground reality.
The conflict can end only when the Government of India, following the decision of the State Cabinet, takes a similar stand to withdraw and scrap the SoO, said COCOMI.
Even as the Union Home Minister is in Manipur holding talks with civil society organisations of both Meiteis and the Kukis, he has hardly mentioned SoO while many have demanded it be scrapped considering the violence being committed by the Kuki militants.
On the other hand, amid increasing attacks on civilians and security forces by Kuki militants, General Anil Chauhan had made the statement that the ongoing turmoil in Manipur is primarily an ethnic clash and is not related to counter-insurgency operations.
Reacting to the statement of the Chief of Defence Staff, COCOMI, the South East Asia Human Rights Association and several other organisations have registered strong criticism accusing the CDS of misleading and whitewashing the incident and concealing the visible involvement of Kuki militant groups, which are part of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement, in the present conflict.
While COCOMI has vehemently condemned the CDS for the misleading statement, the South East Asia Human Rights Association, Maichou Ningshing Lup, Lairembi Sintha Lup, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup and Coordinating Body Khurai have jointly submitted a memorandum to President Murmu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking strong action against Kuki militants.
Registering strong criticism, the South East Asia Human Rights and other bodies including Coordinating Body Khurai asked the CDS, "If insurgents are not involved in the crisis, how are innocent people being attacked and killed using sophisticated weapons like sniper rifles and AK-47 ?" .
There are gunfights between the security forces, who are trying to protect civilians and Kuki militants every now and then in the periphery of the valley area.
Is this a clash between two ethnicities ? It asked.
The associations noted that Chief Minister N Biren Singh himself had declared Kuki militants as terrorists for carrying out terrorism against villages and civilians.
Further asserting that the statement made by the CDS is unjustified, the associations asked if the Indian Army is supporting the Kuki militants.
The conflict in Manipur could be stopped only when the Union Home Minister asks the Kuki militants under SoO to stop firing or take stern action against them, the associations added.
Meanwhile, the memorandum they submitted to the President and the Union Home Minister demanded a high level judicial enquiry headed by one of the retired Judges of the Supreme Court to investigate the act of terrorism against civilians by armed illegal Chin-Kuki immigrants and Kuki militants under SoO.
They demanded abrogation of SoO with Kuki militant groups and formation of a State Level Commission for Restoration of Peace and normalcy.
Other demands include protection of Manipur's integrity from separatist groups, end of narco-terrorism, end of plantation of poppy, deforestation and lift blockade on National Highways.
Meanwhile, COCOMI has urged the people to avoid blocking and digging up roads when they stage protests.
It may cause inconveniences and hinder emergency services, it said.
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