IMPHAL: As the problems between the Nagas and the Kukis continue to prevail in Manipur, two church organisations who met Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand in Imphal today “volunteered to broker peace”, according to the chief minister’s office. Deputy Chief Minister L Dikho was present during the meeting.
A ten-member team of church leaders representing the Council for Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI) and the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) called on the chief minister to discuss the “tense situation between the two tribal communities”, said a statement from the chief minister’s office.
“The church leaders have volunteered to broker peace between the two communities,” it said, adding,” Khemchand Singh said that he feels touched by the church leaders meeting him and offering their help to bring peace”. The state government lauded the role of the church leaders and encouraged them to talk to both sides, it further added.
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The church leaders will be engaging in two teams to work for peace. While one team will travel to Kuki dominated Kangpokpi district, another team will visit Naga dominated Senapati district, informed the chief minister’s office. The church leaders strongly feel that hostages on both sides need to be released on humanitarian ground urgently, the chief minister’s office also stated.
The team that will travel to Kangpokpi will meet the family members of three deceased church leaders to express condolences. The state government has assured that ex-gratia will be provided to the three families. The team will then speak to the Kuki church leaders in Kangpokpi in a bid to bring peace, the chief minister’s office also said.
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The team, which plans to visit Senapati district, will meet the Naga church leaders and members of the Naga civil society organisations to discuss the prevailing tense situation and hostage crisis, the statement further informed.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh lauded the role being played by the church leaders in trying to defuse the present crisis arising out of the hostage keeping incident in the aftermath of the killing of three church leaders on May 13 at Zero Point in between Kotlen and Kotzim under Kangpokpi district.