Rally taken out against KNA threat
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 29 2009: A large number of people took out a protest rally at Pallel today against capital punishment threats issued by the armed outfit KNA on two leaders of social organisations.

It is reported that the KNA, which is a constituent member of the KNO and a party to the SoO pact, threatened to kill chairman of the Kuki Welfare Association and chief of Molnoi village Chongthang Zou and leader of Kuki Women's Organisation Alam Mate (40) .

Today's protest rally was jointly organised by the Kuki Women for Human Rights, Kuki Chiefs' Association, Chandel district, Thadou Students' Association and Kuki People's Forum in addition to the two organisations of which Chongthang and Alam are functionaries.

People participating in a rally to denounce the death threats issued by the KNA at Chandel District

The rally participated by hundreds of people started from Molnoi and came to Pallel Keithel before returning to the starting point. A similar protest rally was also taken out at Sugnu.

The protesters carried banners and placards which read as "KNO/KNA, leave Chandel", "Don't harass civil leaders", "We are living under the rule of the Government, not under UG groups", "Don't violate SoO ground rules" etc.

A public meeting was also held after the protest rally.

Later a team of representatives submitted a memorandum to the Chandel DC for conveyance to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Speaking to media-persons by the sideline of the meeting, Alam Mate said that on September 26 she was summoned by the KNA wing no 5, Tengnoupal commander Thangboy through telephone and text message to come to their place by 10 am of September 27 else she should face whatever consequences resulting thereof.

"Earlier, we made appeals to unite fragmented Kuki armed groups and also not to allow birth of any new armed group", Alam said.

"But the KNA being deeply involved in extortion on highways and other excesses in the name of new organisations turned against us", she said.

Saying that she did not responded to the KNA's summon, Alam Mate said that they never worked to create fissures among Kuki people or other communities.

"We only highlighted the people's desire for unification", she said.

Chongthang Zou said that the people of Chandel district were confused and tired because of the presence of too many organisations including UG groups.