Talks of Peace in Manipur in 2013

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By Chitra Ahanthem

(contd)

Imphal, June 12 2013: Nongdrenkhomba alias Ningthoujam Romen, the commander-in-chief of KCP-MC (Nongdrenkhomba group) has joined KCP-MC (Lamphel group) today so that he can formally participate in the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SoO). It is not clear whether there are other cadres of KCP-MC (Nongdrenkhomba) who joined the Lamphel group.

Imphal, June 14 2013 : Twelve cadres of the Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) have surrendered with arms to 9 AR today. According to source, the 12 KNLF cadres led by SS Lt Lal denga who have surrendered to 9 AR are now at the headquarters of 25 Sector Assam Rifles. The cadres surrendered along with seven AK-47 rifles and four SLRs, the source said.

Imphal, June 14 2013 : Four leaders of United People`s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK), which has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Union and State government recently, have been brought to Imphal from NIA Office, Guwahati today.The leaders of UPPK would be sheltered inside Commando Complex at Minuthong.

Imphal, June 15 2013: The Red Shield Division has claimed that an active cadre of the UNLF surrendered to its troops on June 14 .The statement issued by the PRO of PIB (DW added that the cadre surrendered with a 7.65mm Pistol with 1 Mag and 1 round of 7.65mm.

Imphal, June 16 2013: An active woman cadre of UNLF, Army No 2274 (Batch No 34) of Mayang Imphal, PS Wangoi, Dist- Imphal West reportedly surrendered to the troops of Red Shield Division at Kamlakhong along with one 9mm Pistol and one Magazine.

Imphal, June 17 2013: Home Minister Gaikhangam has today said that there has been gradual improvement in State`s law and order situation as people begin to disregard bloodshed and violence. However, it is not a simple task to deal with more than 50 underground outfits in the State. He was speaking during the discussion of six demands for Police, Vigilance, Fire Protection and Control, Jails, Home Guards and Rehabilitation in the ongoing 5th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

Imphal, June 20 2013: On june 18 an active cadre of PULF (Azad) Army No 146 SS surrendered to troops of Red Shield Division, said a PIB (DW) release adding that a 9 mm pistol, magazine and two rounds were also brought in.

Imphal, June 21 2013: Police today clarified that the four United Revolutionary Front (URF) militants who have been reportedly abducted by unidentified armed persons were rather arrested by the police in connection with extortion. Superintendent of Police (Imphal West) K Jayanta said in a statement today that the four were arrested by a team of Lamphel PS in connection with FIR No 133 (6) 2013 u/s 307/364/384/506/511/34 IPC and 16/17/20 UA (p) A Act of Lamphel PS which was registered on the basis of a complain lodged by the President of All Manipur Petro- leum Tanker`s Union with the DGP Manipur on May 4, 2013.

Imphal, June 22 2013: A team of Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB),a unit of Manipur Police arrested two KNA cadres including its Wing Commander yesterday along with weapons and Rs 9 lakh in cash. A source said the KNA cadres were arrested at a place between Gwaltabi and Yai-ngangpokpi while they were heading towards Imphal from Chassad in Ukhrul district in a Gypsy. It may be mentioned that KNA is a party to tripartite SoO agreement from the KNO camp.

Imphal, June 26 2013: A top-rung leader of the NSCN-K of Nonei village, Tamenglong district has reportedly surrendered to security forces of Red Shield Division on June 25. According to a PIB (DW) release, he reported at Nonei Battalion of Red Shield Division to surrender as he feared for his life from NSCN (K) after the operation of security forces in Shonglung. Formal acceptance of surrender was completed on the evening of June 25, added the release.

Imphal, June 27 2013: Four cadres of the United Revolutionary Front (URF) including its Home Secretary who were apprehended by Imphal West District Police on the charge of extortion have been released today.They were abducted/apprehended on June 19 from Imphal city. Incidentally, URF is in a process of peace talk after it signed a tripartite MoU with the State Government and the Government of India.

Imphal, June 30 2013: The United Peoples Front (UPF), one of the two umbrella organizations of Kuki underground outfits under Suspension of Operation (SoO), has resolved to boycott the Congress (I) Party in Kuki inhabited areas in the coming Lok Sabha election if the political dialogues with the Government of India are not initiated at the earliest. A statement from Secretary of Information and Publicity of UPF C Robinson Thadou said stipends for the cadres have not paid since December last year and infrastructures and other requirements at the designated camps have not been fulfilled by the Government. Pointing out some of the alleged violations committed by the Government, the UPF statement mentioned that the meeting of JMG which is supposed to be held regularly at least once a month has been stopped for the last 7 months, payment of the meagre to the cadres is not regular and the same has been stopped since December last year, although time and gain, the Government uses the issue stipend as a propaganda to tarnish the image of UGs in the eyes of the public.

Imphal, July 01 2013: The People`s Revolutionary Front (RPF) has denied having any further link with one Oinam Yaima alias Kanba, whom the PIB (DW) release claimed as having surrendered to the Red Shield Division, after he was dismissed from the outfit in May this year.

Imphal, July 03 2013: The KNLF/KPA today said that all 12 KNLF/KPA cadres, led by SS Lt Colonel Laldenga, who surrendered before 9 AR on June 15 had already been terminated from the organization prior to their surrender due to their involvement in extortion activities without the leadership`s consent.

Lamka, July 05 2013: Against the backdrop of Assam Rifles personnel raiding the residence of a top functionary of a armed group under SoO, tens of thousands of people today joined the peace rally organized by ZSF to take home their demand to immediately start political dialogue with SoO groups and initiate action against security personnel who violated the ground rules. In their memo that was addressed to the Prime Minister and was handed over to the Additional DC Maniram Sharma, the ZSF said the signing of SoO has substantially reduced armed related violence, however, five years down the line “we are yet to learn any news about political dialogue being held between SoO groups and the government” .

Imphal, July 05 2013: Parents and guardians of cadres belonging to United People`s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) have demanded that the Government accelerate the dialogue process. UPPK had signed an agreement with both the State and Central Government after deciding to join the mainstream. A body called UPPK Guardians` Association was also formed at the meeting that appointed Ng Labango as the president and L Ibohanbi as the secretary.

Imphal, July 05 2013: A total of 19 cadres of the underground Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) surrendered to 9 Assam Rifles along with arms yesterday at Moreh. According to a source, the surrenderees included five high ranking cadres. The arms surrendered to the AR included three M-16 rifles, one M-15 rifle, two AK-22 rifles, one US carbine, one .32 pistol and one 60 mm mortar while the ammunition surrendered included 150 rounds of M-15/16, 50 rounds of AK-22, 38 rounds of US Carbine and three bombs.

Imphal, July 07 2013: A preparatory cum consultative meeting ahead of the 6th round of tripartite talk involving the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council was held yesterday at Taphou Naga village participated by intellectuals and scholars, social leaders, tribe Hohos, regional organizations, women and student leaders, social activists, frontal organisations, MLAs, Naga contractor`s association, former UNC presidents and general Naga public. At the conclusion of the programme, the participants resolved to urge the Government of India to convene the next round of talk at an early date as agreed upon in the 5th round held on the February 12, 2013. The meeting also registered serious concern over the delay of the settlement of the Indo-Naga issue and strongly urged the Government of India to expedite the peace process to its logicalconclusion, conveyed a press release issued by the UNC.

Imphal, July 07 2013: Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) has refuted the reported surrender of 19 cadres along with several arms and ammunitions to Assam Rifles on July 5 as baseless and unknown to the outfit. A statement issued by Information and Publicity Secretary of KNF Kolphe Kuki said that the KNLF is currently under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government and it has never gone under surrender policy.

Imphal, July 09 2013: Clarifying that KCP-MC (Lallumba group)`s president Lallumba alias Hitendra has not fled but is staying in a hospital following an accident, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Gaikhangam asserted that the demand for separate Kuki State as pursued by Kuki UG groups violates the preamble of SoO ground rules. Cadres of the outfit currently housed at 7th MR Khabeisoi complex have opened their bank accounts and certain amounts have been deposited in their fixed accounts at the bank, he said. Stating that the ongoing bandh of the Kuki State Demand Committee urging for political dialogue between Kuki UG groups under SoO pact and the Government would mean much trouble to public, the Deputy Chief Minister appealed to call off the ongoing agitation.

Imphal, July 10 2013: The General secretary of KCP-MC (Lallumba) has categorically denied the statement of Deputy Chief Minister that leader of KCP-MC (Lallumba Group), Hitendra alias Lallumba alias Kritibash has not fled but is undergoing treatment in a hospital. “We have report that Lallumba went to Koirengei, Chingmeirong and Luwangsangbam after leaving the camp,” he said. Another source said that Lallumba had withdrawn some amount of money from UBI AT Line on June 26/27.However, whether the said amount was the controversial Rs 1.92 crore or not could not be confirmed immediately.

(A longer and referenced version of this text is being included in the  eighth annual report of Armed Conflicts in South Asia collated and undertaken by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi)

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