Zeliangrong bodies call for cessation of violence
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2023:
Top Zeliangrong organisations have called upon the Meitei and Kuki communities to cease all forms of violence and appealed to the Centre and the State Government to impartially dispense their duties and obligations to restore normalcy and peace in Manipur.
In a joint statement released to the media today, Zeliangrong Baudi (AMN), Zeliangrong Union (AMN), Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students' Union said they held a joint consultative meeting yesterday and minutely discussed the present situation and took several resolutions which aim at bringing peace and preserving Zeliangrong people's neutrality in the present conflict.
The joint consultative meeting was held at Langol Tarung village, Imphal in the presence of ZU (AMN) president Azang Longmei, vice president Taithailung Kamei, ZB (AMN) president Poupoklung Kamei and vice president Titus Kamei.
While the unprecedented conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities has led to the death of more than a hundred people and made thousands of people homeless, it has affected all sections of communities in Manipur on all fronts, said the Zeliangrong organisations.
The Zeliangrong people are scattered and settled intermingled with other communities in different parts of the State and as such the people of the community (Zeliangrong) should maintain neutrality without siding or having inclination to any of the communities in conflict.
This is to avoid escalation of the conflict.
The Zeliangrong community should instead propagate message of peace and harmony in order to bring normalcy at the earliest possible time, the bodies said.
They stressed that individuals or groups belonging to Zeliangrong community should avoid taking any unilateral decision without considering the ground reality and the Zeliangrong people's situation.
The top bodies said Zeliangrong people should be cautious in their expression of words and inter- action with others.
They should abstain from indulging in any kind of rumours that could incite misunderstanding.
The conflict has affected all sections of the people and communities irrespective of caste and creed, they said, appealing to the communities involved in the conflict to cease all forms of violence in the interest of peace and tranquillity.
The bodies urged all to work cohesively with all like-minded individuals and organisations towards bringing normalcy.
They appealed to the Centre and the State Government to impartially dispense their duties and obligations in order to bring the situation under control, end the suffering and address the grievances of the affected people.
On the other hand, shortage of food-grain (rice) due to irregular allocation/distribution has harshly hit the Zeliangrong people, they said.
The bodies appealed to the Government to ensure regular allocation and timely distribution of the food-grain and also urged the authority concerned to release pending share of 2/3 months for Noney and Tamenglong districts to ease the hardships of the people.
They further appealed to the Government to ensure provision of food-grain (rice) to Zeliangrong people who are living in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.