Top KNO leader Seilen Haokip bats for United Manipur; reacts to CM’s remarks on protest against eviction in hill dists

At the same time Selien Haokip also pitched for an United and stronger Manipur. He said,"The goal that we all aspire which is stronger Manipur, peaceful Manipur, better developed Manipur

The Manipur government’s decision to withdraw the Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the KNA and the Zomi Revolutionary Army has sparked a series of reactions.

Spokesperson of KNO (Kuki National Organisation), which is the apex body of 17 Kuki rebel groups, Dr Seilen Haokip speaking to Northeast Live reacted to Chief Minister N Biren’s Singh statement that SoO groups were involved in triggering law and order situation during the protests against government eviction in the hill districts on Friday.

Seilen Haokip in his first response (quoting the Manipur CM’s interview to Northeast Live)said Chief Minister N Biren Singh might have accessed wrong information and termed it as unfortunate.

Haokip said,”So it is unfortunate that the Honourable Chief Minister I say might have been misinformed by his sources. And, I think we all can sometimes make some unintentional mistakes, we had mistakes SoO groups, government also does sometime.

At the same time Seilen Haokip also pitched for an United and stronger Manipur. He said,”The goal that we all aspire which is stronger Manipur, peaceful Manipur, better developed Manipur for all of its citizens. Yes we are different communities in terms of ethnicity, but otherwise we are all common people of Manipur and all citizens of Manipur. And none anymore is special. Everyone has a equal status.”

According to the KNO spokesperson, the situation is an anomaly which much be overlooked for a better time of welfare and progress. Seilen Haokip said,”So I think this situation an anomaly and all concerned should overlook and keep it aside and switch to a focus which is positive.”

The KNO spokesperson also expressed his thoughts as far as the peace process with the government is concerned. According to him, the positive side is,”to engage in the dialogue going on, the Government of India is in the right frame of mind, they are positive to resolve our issues and so is the state government.”
Meanwhile, expressing concern over yesterday’s incident, the KNO spokesperson said that incident like this should not be permitted to bring in bad taste.

He added,”Let me reiterate that yesterday’s incident was a peacful march and it went on very smoothly except the unfortunate incident in Kangpokpi. The violence should not have happened.”

Earlier, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), had rubbished CM N Biren Singh’s statement that militant factions were involved to create a law and order situation during the protests.

Meanwhile, in what can be termed as a swift action, the Manipur Cabinet withdrew the tripartite talks or the Suspension of Operations with the two hill based insurgent groups, the Kuki National Army or the KNA and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

The cabinet had noted that the rallies were organized for a cause which is unconstitutional and the rallies therefore were illegal.

Widespread protests broke out in the state’s hill districts against alleged eviction drives carried out by the state government without proper rehabilitation and resettlement of those evicted.

It may be mentioned that at least 10 police personnel, including the Kangpokpi district SP Vikramjit Singh, were hurt after tension erupted in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district after hundreds defied Section 144 CRPC and gathered at the Brigadier Thomas Ground in the district headquarters.

Thousands took to the streets in Manipur’s Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi on Friday.

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