Rift rocks ZRA/ZRO, Paite bodies say peace at stake
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 16 2018: An alleged fissure has erupted within the rebel group, ZRA/ZRO with the group's vice-president pitching for the removal of the president along with some of its cabinet members while the president and his men have alleged an attempted coup and ordered the suspension of the vice president.

A statement issued by one TK Zomi, Director Defense ZRO/ZRA on November 13, advising civil bodies to refrain from interfering in the internal matters of the armed group gave an inkling about the initial fissure within the rebel group which is currently under SoO pact and engaged in talks with the Government.

The split within the group became evident as Calvin H, vice president of the group along with four other cabinet members issued a statement to local media houses on November 14 declaring that they no longer accept the group's president Thanglianpau to lead the National movement.

Among others, they accused the president of having a hand in the murder attempt of Young Paite Association general secretary Lianmuanthang Valte, sometime back.

On the same day, president of ZRO Thanglianpau, and the secretary GAD Khencin responded by issuing a termination order of their incumbent vice-president Khenthang Hatlang alias Calvin H, indicting him on four counts including an attempted coup by seizing arms and ammo under the town command and summoning a cabinet emergency meeting without the president's knowledge.

Consequently, four defence Directors of the group along with camp commanders and Batallion Commanding Officers, numbering about twenty signatories narrated their accounts of the events through a separate statement on the same day and disassociated themselves from Calvin H, as well as from his leadership.

On November 15, Calvin H again issued a public appeal calling for people who have upheld them in prayer through the years to continue praying for the organisation so that the matter could be settled without the use of force or loss of life.

Meanwhile, the Paite Tribe Council GHQs and Young Paite Assocation GHQ today filed a petition before the OC Churachandpur PS seeking to lodge an FIR against Thanglianpau, the president of ZRA/ZRO alleging that he was the main conspirator in the foiled homicide against YPA general secretary.

The petition signed by the president and secretary/joint secretary of the two bodies called on the State police to take up the matter with utmost urgency saying, 'failing which, peace and harmony in the entire district is at stake.

The two bodies have also planned a rally tomorrow (Saturday), to press the Government to act on their petition within 72 hours and call for eschewing violence in the Christian dominated society.

In a late night statement issued today (16/11/2018), Calvin H and four other of his cabinet colleagues said they reiterate the fact that Thanglianpau has been terminated from his position with immediate effect.

It further declared that he no longer is a part of the organisation and therefore holds no position or mandate over the people.

'Any document/press handouts or orders of any kind on or after 14 November 2018 made by him and his cohorts shall be treated as null and void,' it said.

They also advised every cadre to return to their respective designated camps at the earliest as the Songtal/Sinai camp is still in the process of becoming a recognised designated camp.

Apart from the cadres, they have also called on every Zomi National worker to report to them at the earliest.

The statement also said, 'As per the FIR No.105(9)2018 CCp-PS u/s 506/120-B/307/34 IPC, the conspirator to the attempted murder of Mr Lianmuanthang Valte should be apprehended at the earliest by the authority concerned and tried in the Court of law' .

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