IT News
Imphal, Feb 21:
Lourembam Nganbi, President of the All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL), has strongly criticized the imposition of President’s Rule in the state and the subsequent arrest of village defenders following the surrender order.
“The ongoing developments are completely unacceptable. How can the government label those who are defending their people as criminals? This is nothing but an attempt to weaken the indigenous population and leave them unprotected,” Nganbi stated.
She directly held both the Manipur government and the Indian government responsible for the rise of village volunteers. “Where was the government when Kuki militants were attacking and seizing land? The village defenders did not pick up arms by choice. They were left with no other option because the state failed in its duty to protect them,” she asserted.
Nganbi further criticized the Governor’s seven-day deadline for the surrender of weapons, questioning the rationale behind the order. “Does the Governor not understand who started this conflict? Does he not see that Kuki militants are still launching attacks? Instead of taking decisive action to resolve the crisis, he is pressuring the victims to surrender their means of protection,” she remarked.
She warned that without ensuring the safety of the people first, any surrender order would be meaningless. “The government cannot expect the people to give up their weapons when there is no guarantee of security. The Governor’s directive is baseless unless immediate steps are taken to safeguard those at risk,” she added.
The women’s organizations, backed by AMKIL, have vowed to continue their movement against the arrest of village defenders and any move that endangers the indigenous population. “If the security forces dare to continue raiding and arresting our village defenders, we, the women, will take up the responsibility of protecting our land ourselves,” they declared.
As tensions continue to rise in Manipur, the women’s organizations have urged the government to rethink its approach and focus on real solutions rather than imposing unjust measures. They have called for urgent dialogue and action to ensure the safety and security of the indigenous communities before any further escalation occurs.
