Imphal, March 09 2009: The banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Manipur has found a sense of awakening for co-existence amongst the people of Manipur in the wake of the widespread condemnations, irrespective of caste and community, of the brutal murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two staff by cadres of NSCN-IM last month.

The UNLF feels that the mass condemnations of the recent triple murder indicate that the power of the the barrel cannot suppress truth and intimidate people, and appealed to the public to take a firm stand to make this true.

In a five-page press release, Senior Publicity Officer of the Department of Publicity, Ksh Yoiheiba placed the statement of the Central Committee of UNLF in connection with the murder of SDO and two staff before the public.

The statement said that in the eyes of UNLF, the triple murder of Kasom Khullen is not considered as a murder of Meetei by Tangkhul or a killing of plains-men by the hills-men, and it will not be correct to consider as such.

The UNLF feels that it was a murder of three citizens of Manipur by the NSCN-IM or some of its cadres, the statement said.

The UNLF expressed appreciation and gratitude to all the communities of Manipur for having condemned the murder in one voice.

The party offered respect especially to the eminent organisations of Tangkhul community and villagers and students of Kasom Khullen for having boldly stood against the murder despite knowing fully well that the NSCN-IM might take revenge later, according to the statement.

It further asked some questions which the UNLF feels that they need to be clarified.

It asked if the murder was committed following an order from the top leaders of NSCN-IM or committed without any order from the top.

If it was committed in compliance of an order from the top, then who was the man who gave the order? For giving the order, would he also not be considered as guilty of the murder? If it was committed following an order from the top, what is the motive behind it? Having kidnapped the three government employees from Ukhrul district, what are the reasons for dumping the three dead bodies, after killing them, near Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district ? Why did not the armed NSCN-IM kill them by shooting them and instead kill them by hacking them with a hoe and bludgeon them with a rock to death? If the murder was committed by some goondas within the NSCN-IM, can it be construed that it is a gang of goondas who cann't be controlled by their leaders? Under the circumstances, don't the naga people have to take the NSCN-IM as a rebel group which does not represent the Nagas? Since the NSCN-IM had admitted that the three persons who were directly involved in the murder are their cadres, won't it be correct to hand them over the people of Manipur? There are the questions the UNLF raised for these concerned to reply.

Further, regarding the "Price of Peace talk," the UNLF's statement said that after the people across the state rose in outrage against the brutal triple murder, the restless NSCN-IM tried hard to cover up their guilt by saying that there was outside influence that deliberately attempted to derail the peace process which had been built with a lot of trouble".

They say that "black sheep exist in every organisation".

They also say that blaming the the NSCN-IM as a whole for the crime committed by certain goondas is too much.

Such manner of protest agitations hamper the peace process with the Government of India, the NSCN-IM feels and has been trying to project those who condemn the brutal murder as people who want to derail the peace process, the UNLF's statement pointed out.

However, the statement asserted, what is regrettable is that some of us who can't think wholly have tried to stand on the side of the NSCN-IM's arbitary argument and tried to defend it.

Everyone knows the reason behind it.

It can't but be construed as an act of seeking selfish gains despite knowing fully well that the NSCN-IM, behind the peace talk, has been indulging in activities challenging other communities for years together.

They turned towards the people who protested such activities of the NSCN-IM calling them as those against peace and appealing not to create any communal stir, the statement added.

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