Free the Kuki occupied lands of Meiteis call rung out
MIYC traces root cause of ethnic clash
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 22 2023: Claiming that the underlying objective of the ongoing violent campaign of Kukis against Meeteis is to realise their dreamland 'Zalengam', the Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has urged the Government to put maximum effort to repel the Kuki militants from Meitei villages and reclaim them.

The Youth Centre said that there won't be a solution to the ongoing crisis as long as Kuki people stick to their stand on Separate Administration and are not willing to hold dialogues.

In a statement, MIYC claimed that the Kukis have been building "Kuki occupied Manipur'' which even the civil administration can't enter as a part of their Zalen'gam dream by ousting Meeteis from their own land using brute force.

Saying that Kukis have so far laid waste to over 2700 houses of Meitei families at Churachandpur (1449), Kangpokpi (1030) and Moreh (700), the MIYC continued that the Kukis have been working persistently to erase the history of the Meeteis from the villages which they have 'occupied' .

The Youth Centre further said that the Meeteis houses were pulled down and levelled using JCB and other heavy machinery by the Kuki militants and their associates.

Maintaining that the Kukis didn't even spare the places of worship, the MIYC said that the Kukis have destroyed/desecrated 393 temples and sites sacred to the Meeteis in the course of the violence.

Many houses of Meeteis were also torched at Kakching, Bishnupur and Imphal East by the Kukis, the Youth Centre further said and claimed that the Indian security forces can easily stop the attack on Meeteis if they want to.

Security forces seem to be launching operations mostly in the valley districts, the MIYC said and claimed that no actions, however, have been taken up against the Kuki militants and the foreigners from Myanmar and Bangladesh who have been attacking Meeteis and waging war against the country since May 3 by violating international law.

Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed between the Government and the Kuki militants is still not withdrawn despite all the things that have been happening in Manipur since the last over five months, the Youth Centre added.

Stating that the Central Government has been protecting Kuki miscreants, it claimed that some of the people who were arrested for torching an open gym at Churachandpur on April 27 were set free on the instruction of the Government of India.

Does India even take the people of Manipur as bonafide citizens of the country, MIYC asked and accused the Central Government of taking the Israel-Palestine war more seriously than the issue in Manipur.

Though India is the birthplace of Bhagwan Ram, Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha, the leaders today are unsympathetic, heartless and dishonourable, the MIYC asserted and claimed that British who occupied India know righteousness more than the latter.

No sympathy was shown to Irom Sharmila who fasted for 16 years against the imposition of AFSPA 1958 in the State, it said and maintained that the British, unlike India, showed humanity to Mahatma Gandhi and listened to his demand when he staged hunger strikes against untouchability and as a part of Quit India Movement among others.

There is no rule of law in India and lying has become a common trait of the contemporary leaders, MIYC added.

Five persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi but there still is no lead on where the bodies possibly could be, MIYC continued and maintained that the assurance to destroy poppy plantations with the help of Indian Air Force has also turned out to be mere lip service.

Further stating that the Government has failed miserably to enforce laws in the State, the Youth Centre said that the Government is so weak that they could not even raise a single word against the Ministers and MLAs who advocate disintegration of Manipur let alone take action against them.

It is no secret that the Government is intolerant towards the civilians and they put every person who dare to speak against their policy and programme in jail, MIYC claimed and added that many people don't speak against the wrongdoings of the Government only because they fear arrest.

The Government, however, can't suppress what people feel inside even if they can people by intimidate them, MIYC said.

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