The Manipur government is facing embarrassment as more and more women’s organisations oppose its policy to open camps in the valley districts to lodge former insurgents awaiting talks with the Union government.
A large number of women, under the banner of the All Manipur Nupi Marup, took out a procession on Monday, demanding closure of a camp, designated in the camp of 9 Dogra Rifles at Loitam Khunnou in Imphal West district. Later, they staged a sit-in.
Talking to journalists here, president Sushila K. said that in the recent past a former militant of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) was found lodged in this camp. He stole a battery from a truck at Sekmai and sold it to a workshop in Imphal. The Lalheiba group of the outfit later expelled him.
She said persons returning home late at night were being waylaid. Many things had been stolen from the houses around the camp all these months.
Tribals in Chandel district, which borders Myanmar, first objected to the plan to open a camp inside 8 Manipur Rifles camp at Leikhun. Members of a non-tribal outfit who surrendered were to be lodged there. The activists feared trouble since insurgents used to kill those who had turned themselves in. As protests erupted, the government tried to shift the camp to Khongjom in Thoubal district, where too people rose in protest. Hence, the government opened the camp at Loitam Khunnou.
Insurgents of several outfits came out of hiding after signing the suspension of operations. But talks with the Union government are yet to begin. The former insurgents have alleged that they could not find enough food since their monthly stipend is not paid regularly.
Meanwhile, the abduction for ransom of innocent persons by former Kuki militants has increased. The outfits cannot indulge in such activities under the terms of the cessation of operations.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei have been warning the former insurgents of severe action if they violate the ground rules. Though these violations have been brought to the notice of the monitoring group, the insurgents have not been pulled up.
