UNC, KSO demand Alice Kamei's release
Source: The Sangai Express /Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 13 2013 :
Maintai-ning that Alice Kamei of Chingphu Zeliangrong village, a Class IX student of Grace Reach Academy, Hiyanglam, Thoubal District is only 14 years old and should be in school under the guardianship of her parents, the UNC has asserted that her continued captivity for more than one month by the RPF/PLA is against both natural law and established international norms.
It is an utter disrespect for the institutions of family and an assault on the innocence of childhood, said a press release issued by the UNC.
Compare this with the flare up in Imphal valley in the wake of the reported incident of the manhandling of Mo-moko by a cadre of the NSCN (IM) at Chandel on December 18, 2012, where the Na- gas and tribals were targeted in well orchestrated moves.
Within this episode, 13 students from Risophung village under Senapati district were waylaid by cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party at Napetpali on 24th December, 2012 and physically assaulted and a sixteen year old girl in the group was molested and rape attempted upon her.
Not to be outdone by the KCP, two villagers of Kong-kan village, under Kamjong sub-division, Ukhrul district, who were returning to their village after a hunting trip were gunned down intentionally by the United National Liberation Front, another valley based militant group in front of a witness who survived the ordeal.
The Cabinet of the communal State Government of Manipur had three meetings on the Momoko issue which resulted in a big delegation of valley based political parties to Delhi.
The level and sense of the offence perceived and taken in the Alice Kamei and Mo-moko episodes are markedly communal in difference, UNC alleged.
The communal response of the State Government and the non state forces in the Imphal valley have offered further vindications for the demand of the Nagas in Manipur for an alternative arrangement outside the Government of Manipur, pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, it claimed.
The blatant communal omissions and commissions of the Manipur State Government and the non-state valley forces in collusion on all fronts is steering away the si-tuation from the peaceful parting of ways.
The Govt of India must in-tervene immediately with an alternative arrangement for it cannot abdicate its responsibility as the custodian of the Constitution.
"Nagas and tribals must be in continued preparedness.
Our homes and families and our land must be defended at all cost.
Ms.Alice Kamei must be safely released to her parents and her people without any delay", it added.
Newmai News Network adds: The Kuki Students Organization, General Headquarters (KSO GHQ) has fervently appealed the Revolutionary Peoples' Front/Peoples' Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) to safely release an 'under-aged school girl', Alice Kamei of Grace Reach Academy from the outfit's custody at the earliest possible time.
Mentionably, RPF/PLA said Alice Kamei is 16 years old and joined the outfit on her own volition while the Zeliangrong organisations rejected the former's version and accused the militant outfit of kidnapping the school girl and forcing her to join the group.
The Zeliangrong organisations also said that Alice Kamei is only 14 years old.
On Sarturday, the KSO-GHQ said, "Whatsoever the reason may be, the girl being in the RPF custody is not justifiable, as she is a minor who still depends on her parent in every walk of life especially in deciding her future career in life.
"Even if she had joined the RPF/PLA on her own volition as claimed by the militant outfit, we appeal not to take advantage of the little girl's ignorance.
Instead, use their wisdom and show their generosity of being one of the oldest and signatory groups in Geneva Convention on August 6, 1997 who pledged to abide and uphold the international law which prohibits child soldier" .
The KSO also condemned the lackadaisical attitude and inaction of the State Government in bringing back the minor school girl who has been missing since March 10 .
"If such episode had happened to someone from a high profile family, a celebrity or the majority community of the state, things would have gone otherwise as to what we have witnessed last Christmas.
Therefore, it will be the best for everyone if the state takes serious initiative before things are blown out of proportion," the apex Kuki students' body said.
"To show solidarity to our fellow student Alice Kamei, KSO pledged to support the total bandh along the National Highway 2 and NH-37 starting from April 21 and also support all forms of democratic protest and activities initiated by All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) in restoring normal life of the little girl," KSO-GHQ vice president Mangcha Baite stated.
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