Thadous decry, pray for peace

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 10 : While praying for peace to prevail in Manipur, the Thadou Community International (TCI) has 'vehemently' condemned the killing of a woman farmer Sapam ongbi Sonia Devi at Saitol village in Bishnupur yesterday.
In a statement, TCI said that Sonia was killed by 'suspected' Kuki militants.
It is very unfortunate to witness fresh violence in Manipur, it said and added that the most recent killing at Saiton happened a couple of days after the attack at Zairon Hmar village in Jiribam on November 7, where a woman named Sangkim, was killed by suspected Meitei militants.
Saying that TCI would like to see justice in both cases and greater concerted efforts by the Central and State authorities to prevent similar incidents, TCI cautioned that the situation, otherwise, could get out of control leading to a large-scale violence throughout the State again if the bloodshed continues.
This fresh violence signals the need for more and all out collaborative efforts by Government authorities, community leaders and the general public to bring about a lasting peace, TCI added.
"It is a matter of shame for our Nation, India, that this violence in Manipur is continuing at the cost of innocent victims," the Thadou group said.
Saying that people should realise the futility of violence irrespective of communities, TCI said that a collective voice must be raised against all forms of violence.
The future will be bleaked for everyone if the violence lingers on, it reasoned and added that blaming one another and trying to garner support of someone else or some other groups against each other, but without a solution, will not do any good.
Saying that people of Manipur should not expect or wait for others to bring peace in the State, TCI continued that more and more harm is being inflicted 'to our own society and people' by allowing the violence to continue.
There is no society where there is no disagreements or conflict of interests, but a society progresses and thrives well when members of the society resolve conflicts without resorting to violence and learn to live with each other peacefully with a sense of respect, understanding and common sense for common good, TCI said.
"With courage, wisdom and vísion, let us all stand up and say enough is enough to violence and killing, and let peace reign once again in our society," TCI prayed.