Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 29 2009:
The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) has strongly opposed the state government's decision to deploy police commandos and IRB personnel in the hill districts of Manipur.
A press release issued today by Lenin H Kuki, Secretary, Information and Publicity, KNO, Government of Zale'n-Gam stated that while the maintenance of law and order comes under the purview of the police, it is absurd on the part of the government to deploy police commandos and IRB personel in the hill districts, where there has been no law and order problem requiring deployment of such forces.
Lenin H Kuki stated that what is more perplexing is the fact that while SoO between the government and the hill-based UGs is making much headway, the government's decision smacks of its sincerity on peace deal with Kuki people.
Instances of police excesses, extra-judicial killings, tortures, fake encounters, lootings, etc in the name of counter-insurgency operations abound in the militarized state, Manipur, Lenin H Kuki said.
He further said that the struggle for the protection of human rights and civil liberties of different civil society groups in Manipur reflect the militarization of the state by the government.
A series of protest rallies against excesses committed by the security forces in Saikul, Moreh, Kangpokpi and other Kuki-inhabited areas in the recent past has been the manifestation of people's resentment against human rights abuses by the security forces, the Information and Publicity Secretary said.
He also said, the government's ill-advised decision is meant to further terrorize the people, particularly, the hill people, which is nothing but to exacerbate state-sponsored terrorism in the guise of protecting law and order.
Hence, the Ibobi-led government's decision holds no substance as there is no rational justification to deploy such lethal forces in the hill districts of Manipur where there are sufficient, if not innumerable personnel, of central security forces which have already been deployed in the hill districts.
Rather the government ought to realize that the hill people shall not and cannot be at the mercy of its 'licence to kill' regime, Lenin H Kuki categorically stated.
He said, in view of the impending terrifying decision being taken by the government, the KNO appeals to all peace-loving individuals and civil society organizations to join hands together and fight against their rational decision so that peace and tranquility prevails in Manipur.