Amnesty for volunteers sought
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 21 2024: All Meitei village volunteers who were forced to arm themselves to protect people and their villages from Kuki militants' attack must be given amnesty, and all FIRs registered against them must be dropped, said Meitei Leima, a woman organisation today.

When violence first erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, there were no security forces to protect the people and the villages.

People had to arm themselves to survive and protect their families and villages.

No legal action must be taken against any of them for defending themselves, said Huidrom Malini, president of Meitei Leima.

Malini made the statements to media persons during a press meet held at Manipur Hindi Parishad's conference hall at Old Assembly road, Imphal.

Malini said the State Assembly which is scheduled to convene on July 31 must take a resolution to grant general amnesty to the village volunteers and protect them.

The Assembly must clearly discuss the nature and circumstances which forced people to arm themselves.

Every step must be taken up to protect the village volunteers, she said.

Malini continued that the May 3, 2023 violence and the subsequent war that has been waged against Meiteis are perpetrated by Kukis who had infiltrated from Myanmar to disintegrate Manipur and create a separate administration or a Kukiland.

When armed Kukis first fired bombs and bullets on Meitei settlements and civilians, there were no security forces to face the onslaught and protect the people.

The State failed to protect its people, she said.

"To defend themselves and their villages, and protect Manipur's integrity, Meiteis had to arm themselves.

Every Meitei, men and women, are village volunteers guarding their villages and protecting Manipur's integrity," Malini said.

She asserted that the Meitei people couldn't face the Kukis who were attacking them using sophisticated weapons.

To survive and protect themselves and families, they were forced to pick up arms, she reiterated.

Malini said every Meitei individual is committed and contributing towards protecting Manipur's integrity.

Commenting on the recent violence and the tense situation in Jiribam, Malini said Kuki militants are getting sophisticated weapons from Myanmar and are continuing attacks on Meitei settlements.

While ensuring safety and security of the village volunteers, to address the current issue and the threat of infiltration from Myanmar, all Kukis who came to Manipur after 1951 must be identified and deported, she said.

The Government must also crack down on poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, she added.

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