Imphal, October 21: A citizens� meeting convened under the auspices of People�s Committee for Peace Initiative at BP Baruah Sadan yesterday has strongly critisised both the Assam Govt and the Centre for the inapt handling of the situation at Karbi-Anglong district of Assam which has been embroiled in violence for the last many days.

The meeting chaired by advisor of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chattra Parishad (AJYCP) was attended among othrs by advisor of All Manipur United Clubs Organsiation (AMUCO) Dhanabir Laishram as one of the presidium members.

After a serious deliberation on the present burning issue, the meeting condemned the State Govt of Assam and the Karbi Anglong District Council for their abject failure to stop the month-long deaths and violence.

The congregation also criticised the Central Govt for turning a blind eye to the bloodshed and for not intervening in the conflict and demanded compensation for the affected people and the victims� families.

Maintaining that the conflict is Karbi Anglong is not ethnic in nature, the meeting resolved that the Karbi armed opposition group-United People�s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Dimasa armed opposition group - Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) were not responsible for starting the conflict.

However, there is a lack of co-ordinated effort on the part of both organisations to prevent the politics on conflict from flaring into a sectarian issue, the meeting noted.

The congregation, therefore, called upon both the organisations to sit and have a dialogue so that they can take measures to contain the conflict and reassure the Karbi and Dimasa people.

The meeting further resolved that the karbi and Dimasa civil societies should also work together besides resolving to take out a large solidarity meeting, fact-finding and relief operations in the affected areas.

Earlier addressing the meeting attended by representatives of civil social organisations from all over the North East and particularly from Assam, Dhanabir Laishram spoke on how community initiatives were necessary to prevent further outbreak of hostilities among indigenous people.

Dolly Kikon of Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMRH) expressed Naga civil society�s concern about the ongoing violence at Karbi Anglong and the sympathy for the victims of the violence.

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