Lady Advocates put case before Uikey
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2023: Members of the All Manipur Lady Advocates' Association (AMLAA) led by its president Ch Kiranbala Devi called on Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan today and submitted a memorandum containing a 9-point demand on the present Manipur crisis.

While the association members raised several issues and grievances to the Governor, they presented facts and genesis of the present crisis that erupted on May 3 through the memorandum.

"...We felt it necessary to mention the real facts and circumstances of the ongoing crisis of Manipur that sparked and erupted from the cruel, merciless and violent attacks on the lives and properties of the Meetei/Meitei in many villages of Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Imphal West, Imphal East and Tengnoupal districts by the Kuki-Chin people after the so-called "Tribal Solidarity March" held on 3rd May, 2023" .

Lady Advocates put case before Uikey

It is well known to the people of Manipur that many participants of the so-called "Tribal Solidarity March" were seen holding sophisticated arms and weapons.

Many individuals belonging to Meetei/Meitei were shot dead by the armed Kukis.

The news of such cruel and violent attacks by the Kuki-Chin people to the Meetei/Meitei spread out like wildfire and the Meetei/Meitei, in retaliation, started vandalizing the houses of Kukis in and around the valley areas.

The communal clash thus spread to almost everywhere in the State of Manipur, said the lady Advocates' association.

The present scenario, the association said, was actually created by the foreign immigrant militants/illegal foreigners belonging to the Kuki community from the neighbouring country, Myanmar.

In the memorandum, the association claimed that the "unnatural growth" of the Kuki villages in the Kuki inhabited districts in the hill areas of Manipur, "deforestation, poppy plantation" etc for their "wrongful gains" are reasons for claiming a separate administration for the Kuki community.

Time is now ripe for putting a complete ban on the Kuki militants or terrorist organisations with the abrogation of Suspension of Operation (SoO) and take serious actions as per law against the Kuki militants and offenders involved in illegal drug business and trafficking etc in order to bring peace in the State of Manipur, said AMLAA.

The association then raised nine demands to the Governor to-- 1) take up appropriate actions and measures to uphold and protect the territorial and administrative integrity of the State of Manipur;
2) take up necessary action to impose ban on the various Kuki militants with abrogation of SoO;
3) identify foreign and illegal immigrants in the State of Manipur and deport them;
4) take up measures to prevent fresh intrusion/infiltration of foreigners in Manipur;
5) enforce law of the land both in the hills and the valley equally;
6) make proper enquiry and investigation related to commission of crimes and offences against women in both the hills and the plain areas and grant adequate compensation to the victims and all affected persons;
7) protect the lives and properties of the people in vulnerable areas in and around foothills by providing effective and unbiased security forces or State forces;
8) take up necessary action with direction to the authorities concerned to punish the culprits who locked and burnt alive Sorokhaibam Ibetombi Devi (80), wife of National Awardee freedom fighter S Churachand Singh of Serou village, Kakching, and punish the security personnel who remained mere spectators at the time of the incident; and
9) take up measures to bring a plausible and justified solution in the present crisis, and address the grievances of the people.