Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): The Kuki National Organisation today lamented that its arrested Chief of Army Staff, Col Seikhojan Haokip remains in police custody despite of the Manipur state government’s positive response to the political aspiration of the Kuki people and therefore demanded the release of its leader at the earliest.
A day after the KNO declared that ‘communalism in Manipur has reached its zenith’ and allegation of unfair treatment meted out to its arrested leader, the KNO Under Secretary of Information and Publicity, T Stephen Kuki, in a press statement, softened its stance.
Stephen said that the volatile circumstances in Manipur owing to the existence of numerous militant organisations might have compelled the Manipur police, during their normal course of duty, to arrest the KNO leader. He said that the Manipur government, since it is not a party to the Suspension of Operation (SOU), signed between the Indian Government and KNO, might have been obliged to arrest the KNO leader. However, Stephen said that considering the recently declared position of the state government concerning the Kuki people, ‘which has been in the public domain before 14 July 2007, it is unfortunate that the KNO CAS remains in police custody. “This contradiction needs to be rectified for the benefit of all concerned parties and especially to demonstrate that the government is indeed committed to their declaration,” said Stephen.
Stephen said that the release of Haokip by the Manipur government would engender a sense of trust in the government’s genuineness in dealing with the Kuki people.“In the existing political climate in Manipur it is deeds that will establish the sincerity of the state government, not words,” said Stephen and added that the KNO anticipates the early release of the arrested KNO leader. Seikhojan Haokip, the KNO Chief of Army Staff, was arrested by the Manipur police commandos on July 14 at Tulihal Airport in Imphal, while on his way to Delhi.
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