AMUCO demands unconditional release
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 19 2023:
The All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has demanded unconditional release of all the five village defence volunteers arrested by police on September 16 .
All the village defence volunteers including the five arrested by police should be elevated to the status of National heroes, said a statement issued by AMUCO.
It is the people's collective stand that no harm should be done to the village defence volunteers.
The village defence volunteers accomplished many feats which the State Government could not.
They advanced to different places where the State forces could not put venture out to and gave befitting replies to Kuki militants, it said.
Saying that a special reward should be announced for these volunteers, AMUCO appealed to all the people to take a firm stand so as to prevent arrest of village defence volunteers by the State.
If the village defence volunteers are arrested one after another in such arbitrary manner, people living in fringe and vulnerable areas would be left at the mercy of Kuki militants.
In order to save Meitei villagers from Kuki militants, it is crucial to strengthen and boost the morale of village defence volunteers, AMUCO said.
When police commandos and IRB personnel could not advance beyond foothills in the face of relentless attacks by Kuki militants from nearby hills, it was village defence volunteers who climbed up the hills and fought the Kuki militants.
That was why many village volunteers suffered casualties including deaths, it said.
The State Government's decision to pull up village defence volunteers while the State forces are unable to operate in Kangpokpi, Moreh and Churachandpur would only exacerbate the turmoil.
People would certainly appreciate the State Government if the police commandos who are proficient in arresting village defence volunteers are sent to Kangpokpi, Moreh and Churachandpur to nab Kuki militants.
It went on to ask if the State Government is able to do anything against the Kuki militants in the face of their direct challenge to the elected Government.
Kuki militants don't give a damn to the State forces.
What they (Kuki militants) fear are the village defence volunteers who are ready to lay down their lives for the cause of the motherland, AMUCO said.
It was the failure or inability of the State forces to fight the Kuki militants which compelled thousands of volunteers to come to the frontline, it pointed out.
AMUCO questioned the State Government's inability to withdraw effectively from the tripartite SoO agreement.
The State Government owes an explanation to the people why it still remains a party to the tripartite SoO agreement, it added.