The World Meetei Council (WMC) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Kuki militants, stating that it is the only way to bring normalcy in the state.
As per the media reports, the WMC came across the statement that the Centre has accepted the removal of the clause for safeguarding the integrity of Manipur in the SoO, Yambem Arun Meetei, Secretary General, CEC - World Meetei Council said in a release.
The WMC, however, stated that it would keep in record that when the Manipur assembly passed the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015, only the Chin-Kuki protested where they violently attacked Churachandpur police station leading to police firing killing nine people.
They protested because the bill took 1951 as the base year and about 70 per cent of the present Chin-kuki population are immigrants and their descendants who migrated after 1951 from Myanmar. They feared losing their citizenship, the WMC added.
The WMC maintained that in another incident on August 18, 2015, Chin-Kuki attacked and vandalised almost all Meetei shops in border town of Moreh where they were the majority to bully Meetei not to ask for ILP which could check illegal migration from Myanmar.
The council also cited the April 27, 2023 incident where an open Gym facility at Churachandpur was destroyed and set on fire. It further stated of the attacks and looting of Meetei homes in Churachandpur district on May 3 adding that Assam Rifles could not do anything because of SoO. That's how Manipur violence began, the WMC stated.
Chin-kuki’s aims to carve out homeland – ZALENGAM, conceptualized in the 1980s - according to documents, is a well-planned action calendar, the WMC said. They never speak for peace but only Zalengam/Separate administration and they provoke Meetei at their convenience because SoO gives them immunity from Indian army/Assam rifles, the council said, adding that the Meiteis have been at the receiving end.
“We don't know the number of casualties on both sides but one Chin-kuki leader put 250, including 200+ at Khamenlok for Meetei and Chin-kuki's casualties are less. Fact is Chin-kuki's aim is to keep trouble brewing to mount maximum pressure on the government of India,” Yambem Arun Meetei said.
The question is, the WMC asked, how could a group of people who kill their fellow men to achieve their ZALENGAM be given respect and honour and be rewarded in democracy? Instead, they should be contained, disarmed and brought to justice, the council added.
The WMC urged PM Modi to abrogate the SoO Agreement with kuki militants, saying this can only bring normalcy.
