Patsoi Incident : irresponsible acts and inhuman callousness

15 May 2015

The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) is very concerned with regard to the reported incident where two youths namely Moirangthem Dayananda (30 yrs) from Patsoi III area and Maibam Premanada (21 yrs) from Haorang Keirel Lamkhai were killed and Konthoujam Bishal (12 yrs) from Haobam Marak Lourembam Leikai in Imphal East seriously injured allegedly by Suspension of Operations (SoO) signatory insurgent group Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF) cadres. CORE offers our deepest condolences and prays for the families of the deceased and the injured. We also offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to those innocent victims who were injured, killed or properties burnt allegedly by protesters along NH-37 yesterday.

CORE is appalled at the irresponsible acts and inhuman callousness of KRF cadres responsible for such heinous crimes upon innocent individuals as reported. Such acts simply cannot be excused or willed away. It is to be understood that the government is not the only one accountable to brutal act of human rights violations and maintenance of law and order. Non-state actors are equally accountable. They should also know that they are equally responsible in safeguarding and protecting peoples’ rights and protecting lives. This becomes more so especially when non-state actors like KRF comes under SoO and their expenses covered by the government through tax-payers’ money. In fact, being financially supported by the government and allowed to live in officially recorded and permitted designated camps, even the very term ‘non-state’ is becoming very debatable!

Given the seriousness of the act, CORE demands a full and transparent inquiry into the circumstances leading to such acts and how armed KRF cadres under SoO are allowed to run free. This is a clear sign of irresponsibility and negligence of State and Central authorities who are supposed to ensure that SoO signatory groups are constantly monitored and that they adhere to Ground Rules.

Further, with the possibility of this incident taking on an ugly communal face, especially when emotions are strained; lives, properties lost and people rudely shaken by brutalities, CORE fervently urges both the Kuki and the Meitei communities to remember the values of restraints, of shared histories and the bonds that knits us together. This is the time when we most need understanding and peaceful dialogues as brothers should.

We urge the people of Manipur to work together to ensure that the culprits and other enemies of humanity are brought to justice, but in a responsible manner and that peace and trust is restored.

Sd/- (Dr. D. Roy Laifungbam)
President
Elders’ Council, CORE

(Dr. Immanuel Z. Varte)
Executive Director, CORE