The Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) on Saturday expressed strong condemnation against the complete surrender of arms and cadres by Jenchui Kamei group under the ‘Cessation of Operation’ signed on December 27 with the Government of India and Government of Manipur.
The Zeliangrong movement is very much alive and moving ahead with renewed zeal in the right direction and ZUF will continue to stand for the cause of the Zeliangrong Homeland, stated a release issued by MIP G Nguiba. “We will never surrender our cause nor give in to any amount of pressure from within and without,” it stated.
ZUF solemnly assures the Zeliangrong people that any major decision with regard to Zeliangrong Movement shall be taken only after due consultation is carried out with all stakeholders and Zeliangrong people living in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, it mentioned.
It stated that the content of the agreement reflects poorly on the legitimate movement of the Zeliangrong people. The manner in which Jenchui Kamei and gang members easily gave up their so called cause shows their superficial level of dedication and commitment to the long cherished movement and political aspiration of the Zeliangrong people, it stated.
It is now clear to the people that Jenchui Kamei and gang were all along stage managing through these years using the Zeliangrong movement as a camouflage for their selfish interest and criminal activities, it mentioned.
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It was all the more shocking to note that some Zeliangrong CSO leaders were involved in the signing of the ‘Cessation of Operation’, ZUF stated. It was unambiguously a collateral mistake that ‘Zeliangrong Movement’ demand in the form of State, Union Territory or Territorial Council or any other development package for the Zeliangrong people is conspicuously absent in the pact which otherwise should have been the foundation for any further talks in resolving the long legitimate struggle, it mentioned.
“This shows their lack of vision and complete lack of insight which is very unfortunate and history will judge them for their actions. Any sensible person must know the difference between surrendering and entering into a ceasefire for political dialogue,” it mentioned.
Before any concrete political demand of the Zeliangrong people or package has been agreed by the Government of India, these gangs have decided to surrender, it stated. “Therefore, December 27, 2022 will go down as a black day in the history of our struggle for common Zeliangrong Homeland for which Rani Gaidinliu had struggled till her last breath,” it mentioned.
Zeliangrong people who live in their compact ancestral territory in the states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland continue to remain minorities wherever they are settled and face injustice. As a matter of fact, the Zeliangrong Movement covers all the Zeliangrong regions of these states and is being nurtured and supported by all the people wherever they are living, it stated.
The signing of the recent agreement has no involvement of officials and state functionaries from Assam and Nagaland which is ridiculous and it had apparently reduced the Zeliangrong Movement to Manipur centric affairs only, the reasons for which they remain under a cloud of suspicion, it further stated.
Surrendering of arms by Jenchui Kamei is not at all surprising if there is a stake for himself even as he had earlier also sold off hard earned arms to other militant groups for few scores of lakhs of rupees to meet his selfish ends, it mentioned. The manner in which the ZCO leaders have become Jianchui’s “representatives” and “accomplices” in such a hurriedly and secretively signed pact is pitiful and unbecoming of their statutes and experiences, it stated This shall remain as a dark day in the Zeliangrong history and those responsible will be condemned by all right thinking Zeliangrong people.
Nevertheless, it is good that anti-social elements are finally laying down their arms and have agreed to abjure violence and there will be no undue fear among the public and also no more confusion among the Zeliangrong people as to who is the real ZUF, it added.
