Oct 13, 2010

Manipur: Some Peace

            The Kuki National Front (KNF) is set to deposit arms under double locker to start the political settlement according to its president, Thangboi. The KNF will be the first Kuki militant among the signatories groups under the Suspension of Operation to deposit arms under double locker. “I would like to clarify to all the Kuki people, the state, Government of India and to the world that this is not a surrender or submission of arms. We are only depositing our arms under a double locker for the sake of peace and political settlement for the Kukis and we strongly believe this will be a harbinger of Kuki political solution”, Thangboi asserted. The KNF has about 370 cadres and about 150 cadres have so far been accepted for the designated camp at Sadar Hills. The SoO has been recently extended for another year to the middle of August 2011.

A network of arms smuggling in Manipur was exposed with two militants of KCP (MC) Lamyanba Khuman group arrested for smuggling five hand grenades concealed in table lamps. The guerrillas are seen to smuggle small arms and grenades through electronics and toys from Myanmar through Moreh-Tamu International gateway.

Naga organisations, which had used economic blockade as a potent tool to press for their demands changed tack when they were faced with a similar obstruction by the All Assam Students’ Union. The Naga Students’ Federation which was supporting the economic blockade imposed on Manipur valley by the United Naga Council and the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur has now opposed the blockade by the Assamese. Meanwhile a tripartite meeting of the Government of Manipur (GoM), United Naga Council (UNC) and the Government of India (GoI) was held in New Delhi to address the representation submitted to the prime minister for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur.  Some confidence building measures are anticipated by the UNC such as conducting a judicial enquiry into the May 6 incident at Mao Gate wherein 2 students were shot dead and more than 100 injured and lifting of prohibitory order 144 CrPC and militarisation of the hill areas.

OCT 2010

Related Article