Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 08 2009:
Examining the recent brutal murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan, Mondal Y Token and Driver A Rajen from different viewpoints, the proscribed UNLF has called upon all the people of Manipur to identify distinctly enemies of the people.
A statement issued by the outfit's senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba also appealed to the people not to add any communal tinge to the brutal murder and the issue arising out of it.
Further appealing to stand firmly and valiantly against all elements scheming to create communal divide out of the issue, the outfit pledged unstinted support to such stand of the people.
From the perspective of the UNLF, the triple murder was not Tangkhuls killing Meiteis nor hill people killing valley people but murder of three Manipuris by NSCN (IM) or by some of their cadres.
Appreciating the univocal and vociferous condemnation poured out from all quarters, including different Tangkhul organisations, particularly outcry raised by the students and villagers of Kasom Khullen, the UNLF remarked that the spontaneous outcry from all sections of Manipur was a day of awakening for peaceful co-existence where guns cannot suppress truths.
Observing several incoherent and obscure points in the triple murder issue, the outfit questioned whether the murder was carried out at the command of NSCN (IM)'s higher authority.
If it was so, then what is the reason behind the gruesome murder, the outfit asked.
Questioning selection of Taphou Kuki village, Senapati district to leave behind the mutilated corpses even as the employees were abducted from Ukhrul district as well as use of spade and stones for the murder although the NSCN (IM) cadres involved in the killing were equipped with guns, the UNLF pondered whether the murder was aimed at sparking off a communal clash between Kukis and Meiteis.
If it is true that the triple murder was perpetrated by some goondas within NSCN (IM), should it be assumed that the NSCN (IM) is a gang of goondas who could not be controlled by its leaders.
In case such assumption has any validity, should not the Naga people read that the NSCN (IM) is no longer an insurgent organisation which carries their mandate, the UNLF posed.
As the NSCN (IM) has already admitted that the murderers were its own cadres, shouldn't the murderers be handed over to the people of Manipur, it further questioned.
With all sections of the society rising up strongly against the shocking murder in an unprecedented manner, the NSCN (IM) has been trying to pull out itself from the issue by claiming that the people's movement has some characteristics which are intentionally aimed at derailing the peace talk.
The UNLF also accused the NSCN (IM) of trying to label all those who came out condemning the murder as peace-breakers on the ground that holding the outfit responsible for the murder which was perpetrated by some black sheep affected the peace process with New Delhi.
Quoting NSCN (IM) that every organisation has black sheep, the UNLF decried that some elements have been trying to condone NSCN (IM) after accepting their beguiling arguments.
Extension officer RS Ramsing, village level worker S Ramthing and peon Kapangkhui who were abducted together with SDO Kishan and his staff but left unharmed should be allowed to narrate the truths and circumstances of the triple murder without any inhibition to the people, the UNLF asserted.
(To be continued).