Tengnoupal: The Joint Kuki Civil Society Organisations of Tengnoupal District in a press release Sunday said it acclaims the Peace Agreement reached between the Central Government and United National Liberation Front led by Pambei, a Meitei insurgent group as a “considerable success towards bringing the cadres of the banned extremists to the mainstream.”
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The joint Kuki civil bodies of the district namely, Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal; Kuki Chiefs’ Association, Tengnoupal; Kuki Students’ Organisation, Tengnoupal and Hill Tribal Council, Moreh said, “We believe that the recently signed ‘Peace Agreement’ would pave way for a peaceful environment in the trouble torn Manipur valley.”
It may be mentioned that round 600 cadres of the UNLF led by Pambei including their Acting Chairman, General Secretary and leaders were given a warm welcome by Manipur Government on Saturday morning.
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Below is the complete press release:
In the aftermath of the said Peace Agreement, it is learnt that the proposed designated camps for
UNLF cadres are Kakching Khunou, Ingourok, Jiribam, Kwatha and Moreh which all except Kakching Khunou falls within the tribal areas. In light of this Peace Agreement’ the joint Tengnoupal CSOs would like to express serious concern regarding the proposed setting up of designated camps for the surrendered Valley-based insurgent group(VBIG) in and nearby the Kuki-Zo tribal areas.
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The Kuki-Zo public of Tengnoupal District hails the truce but cannot accept inclusion of Kwatha, Moreh. Jiribam and Ingourok as designated camps for any valley militants. It is a sinister attempt of Mr. N Biren Singh to annihilate the Kuki-Zo tribals in particular and the tribal communities of the state as a whole. Sheltering valley based militants in the tribal dominated hill areas will bring more harm than good in the future. The Kuki-Zo tribals in Tengnoupal and Jiribam districts have been consciously and continuously restraining from reacting to the provocations from Biren led Meitei government. But we will not remain a silent spectator and will oppose tooth and nail if there’s such plan to set up designated camps for the valley-based militants in the hill districts of Tengnoupal and Jiribam. Any designated camps for Meitei extremists should be within the confine of Manipur valley (Kangleipak) area. Attempts to set up designated camps in the hill districts of Jiribam and Tengnoupal will be seen as act of intrusion which will invite fitting backlash.
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Against the backdrop of the ethnic cleaning campaign against the Kuki-Zo people by the Government of Manipur and its Meitei radicals, a clear boundary between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo people had been established and maintained in the form of frontline/buffer zone. The zone indicates the demarcation line between the Kuki-Zo people and the Meiteis.
The joint Tengnoupal CSO therefore advised that the boundary(buffer zone) demarcating the Kuki-Zo and Meitei settlements is strictly honoured and maintained while setting up/identifying designated camps for the Meitei militant faction.
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