KPF joins anti Commandos chorus, warns

Imphal, July 22: Demanding review of the Cabinet decision to deploy Police Commandos and IRB personnel in the hill districts, Kuki People's Forum (KPF) has warned of taking recourse to various intense agitation against the Government if the decision is not reviewed.

Addressing a press conference at the office of KPF at Sahumphai village in Chandel district today, its chairman Yangkhopao Haokip categorically stated that the Government should be responsible for any eventuality in this regard.

Asserting that the decision to deploy Police Commandos and IRB personnel in the hill districts, in addition to the existing police stations at all the district headquarters and camps of other security forces is unreasonable, the chairman said it smacks of a hidden agenda.

While the Government did not listen to the demand to provide security forces to protect the life and properties of the people at the height of the insurgency movement in the hill districts, why should it think of deploying Police Commandos and IRB personnel when there is peace following the signing of Suspension of Operation ?, he questioned.

People in the hill districts would never accept deployment of Police Commandos and IRB personnel and sacrifice themselves to suffer in their hands not to mention of the hard earned peace, the chairman said, adding that instead of trying to disturb peace in the hills, the Government should pay attention to implementation of 6th Schedule and Autonomous District Council for the development of the hill districts which would be welcomed by all.

The advisors of KPF Ngamkhang Mate and Ngamkholet Haokip who were also present during the press conference observed that there is no report of any violent incidents in the hill districts of Manipur.

So the decision of the State Cabinet on deployment of Police Commandos and IRB personnel in the hill districts is unacceptable.

Failure of reviewing the Cabinet decision would only invite the wrath of the people in the hill districts and it would have serious impact in the Manipur society, they said, while announcing that KPF would extend full support to the 48-hour total bandh in the hill districts being called jointly by UNC, ANSAM, NWUM and NPMHR.

Chin/Kuki/Zo Political Prisoner Died In Burma's Jail

14 June, 2009: Salai Hla Moe, a member of National League for Democracy (NLD) based in Matupi Township, Chin State, died last month of 'blood disease' due to harsh condition and lack of medical treatment in Burma’s Myingyan prison.

 

The 48-year-old Chin political prisoner was said to have suffered from water-related disease for more than two years in prison and died after treatment from an outside hospital had been denied.

A family relative said that Salai Hla Moe was treated only in the prison clinic and when his condition was getting worse, he was not allowed to receive treatment from an outside hospital, according to Democratic Voice of Burma.

Salai Hla Moe's family learned of his tragic death only weeks after a cousin brother from Pekoku town visited the prison in the end of last month. It is claimed that the authorities did not want to inform the family immediately.

Sa Lawng, an India-based Chin from Matupi Township, was quoted as saying: "At the moment, Salai Hla Moe's wife is suffering from mental illness and is not living at home, but wandering on the streets. There is no future hope for their family as there is no one to look after their children." 

A report A glimpse To Political Prisoners and Prison Conditions in Burma by Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) published in March 2001 said: "The health condition in prisons is terrible as there is not enough medicine, medical doctors or timely treatment. The prisoners' health deteriorates as a result of torture, improper food and inappropriate accommodation.” 

"There are some deaths, as the extremely sick prisoners have to wait for the approval of prison authorities and MI for medical treatment. The prisons have become distributing centres of communicable diseases, such as AIDS, because one needle is used on many political prisoners when they feel sick or are vaccinated," added the report. 

An active member of NLD in Chin State's Matupi Township, Salai Hla Moe, who was in charge of security for Aung San Suu Kyi during her trip to the region in 2003, was arrested along with Matupi NLD Secretary Salai Aung Thang and Youth leader Salai Pa Thang by the military authorities soon after Burma's pro-democracy leader left. The arrested members were sentenced to 11 years in prison. 

Salai Hla Moe, a Chin Christian, passed away while he was serving nearly seven years of his 11-year sentence. It is claimed that the prison authorities did not allow Salai Hla Moe’s family members to see his body and to perform a Christian funeral service. 

This week, the Burma Campaign UK called on the UN to make securing the release of all Burma’s political prisoners, who are being kept in appalling prison conditions and being denied access to healthcare, an urgent priority before democracy leaders die in Burma’s jails. 

Family members and relatives of those held in remote prisons are forced to travel for days to visit the prisoners, and only allowed to meet for a matter of minutes. 

In military-ruled Burma, there are more than 2,000 political prisoners who have been arrested just for peacefully calling for democracy and freedom in the country. Sources said that over 20 of 43 major prisons currently house political prisoners in Burma. 

Van Biak Thang
Chinland Guardian
http://www.chinlandguardian.com/index.php/Home/460

UPF condemns killings

IMPHAL, June 14 : The United People’s Front, UPF, an apex body of the Kuki underground group now in the suspension of operation, SoO, agreement with the government, has strongly condemned the frequent attacks and killings of non-Manipuris in Manipur.

In a press release the UPF said as Indian citizens the non Manipuris must be protected wherever they in India. It said this being the case killing of non Manipri labour, rickwhaw and handcart pullers would not bring about any political solution.

It said such acts show imperfect or immature revolutionary struggle, adding if the attackers are real revolutionaries, they would not have perpetrated such barbaric acts upon the poor daily wage earners.

Kuki Chiefs re-installation ceremony

Imphal, January 22 : The Kuki Chiefs' Association, Chandel district has asked all chiefs and chairmen of village coming under the jurisdiction of Tengnoupal sub-division to attend the re-installation ceremony of Tengnoupal sub-division to be held at Tengnoupal village at 11 am on January 23 .

The association has warned that if any chief and chairman fail to attend the ceremony it will be assumed that the said chief is not willing to come under Tengnoupal.

'Pay NREGS wages through VAs, not banks'

Churachandpur, Dec 22 : In view of its perceived urgency arising out of the need to clear school fees for securing children's results before Christmas and the monetary requirement of the festival and New Year celebrations, Kuki Inpi, Manipur requested the Director, NREGA to pay the daily wages of NREGS workers in Churachandpur district through VAs and not through the banks as required by the Government.

'Apart from the Lamka Block, the other six blocks of the district do not have any post office with saving facilities, only the banks has such facilities,' wrote Holkholun Lhungdim, President KIM in his letter address to the Director.

As majority of the wage earners are poor, urgent payment of wages of the remaining 25 days would help them in clearing their children's fees for the declaration of the end term results.

The memo added that most of the villagers do not have accounts in nationalized banks, and as there is need for most villagers to travel two to three days to reach the district headquarters, the wages must be released through the Village Authorities.

The Sangai Express

Two killed, four injured in Manipur clashes

Imphal, Dec 19 : Two persons have been killed and four others injured in a clash between militants and civilians in an interior Manipur village of Bishenpur district, official sources said on Thursday.

Trouble began whem Kuki militants entered Kwakta village, about 45 km from here, last evening and attempted to kidnap a Muslim girl.

When the villagers raised an alarm and chased the militants, the militants fired at the people injuring two villagers, the sources said.

The irate villagers chased the Kuki militants and killed a militant and a Kuki villager of neighbouring village where the villagers thought that the militants had taken shelter, the sources said.

The militants who were nearby started firing at the villagers injuring two civilians who chased them, the sources said.

Heavy police and security forces were deployed in the area to prevent any communal clashes.

The motive behind the attempt to kidnap the Muslim girl by militants was not immediately known.

Sinlung News