Joint meet of MLAs, CSOs for collective resolution mooted Tributes paid to butchered kids, women

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 21 : Days after announcing that he would resign from being a legislator, Thangmeiband AC MLA Kh  Joykisan has called for a meeting of the civil society organisations and MLAs so as to take a collective resolution in the interest of the people.
He made the appeal while attending a programme held in honour of the three Meetei women and three children including an infant of eight months who were killed by Kuki armed groups in Jiribam.
The gathering paid floral tributes to the photos of the slain civilians during the programme organised by Thangmeiband Kendra Development Organisation (TAKDO) at the community hall near Khuyathong Pukhri Achouba today.
At the function, Joykisan said that the killing of six civilians in Jiribam was an act of terrorism.
Saying that the failure of the Government and its agency to arrest the culprits involved in the massacre is disappointing and unfortunate, he added that the souls of six civilians who died in the atrocities of the terrorists will find peace only when the culprits are arrested.
Joykisan also said that a movement should be taken out demanding justice for them (the six slaughtered civilians).
Recounting the naked parade which took place in the beginning of the conflict, the MLA said that the Meiteis didn't protect the culprits who were involved in disrobing the two women.
It was the Meiteis who dismantled the houses of the culprits involved in the infamous incident and ostracised them from their localities, he further said and added that it was also the Meitei women who clothed the victims and entrusted them to the police safely.
Saying no Kuki MLA, group or individual, however, intervened to ensure safe release of the women and the children despite being in the captivity of the armed men, Joykisan appealed to the Kuki human rights groups to hand over the murderers who didn't even spare women and an infant to the Government.
On the mounting pressure on the MLAs to state their position, Joykisan maintained that it is time for the MLAs and the CSOs to sit together and take a collective resolution in the interest of the people instead of demanding mass resignation of legislators.
He said that safeguarding Manipur should not be entrusted only to the MLAs.
Saying that 40 of the 60 MLAs were elected from valley districts, he added that the Centre may not dissolve the State Assembly even if all 40 of them resign by letting the remaining 20 MLAs stay in office.
Resigning is not the issue but people should first understand the merit and demerit which will befall Manipur if the MLAs resign en-masse, Joykisan said and added that people may resent them if the State Assembly continues to function with the 20 MLAs representing hill districts.
The MLAs should unite in the interest of the people, he added.
Joykisan, meanwhile, said that he was not at home when a mob stormed his residence on November 16 following the killing of six civilians in Jiribam.
Saying that he tried to hold a telephonic conversation with the protesters, Joykisan claimed that the intent of some people from among the mob was to loot.
He also said that the mob even kicked the sacred utensil kept at the shrine of Lainingthou Sanamahi and desecrated the shrine of Ibudhou Pakhangba.
Saying that he even decided to resign from being an MLA over the inability of the Government to rescue the hostages who were later killed in the most horrific manner by the Kuki armed men, Joykisan continued that he didn't resign as the people of Thangmeiband who elected him advised him not to.
He said that some of the MLAs who also wanted to resign and the people of Thangmeiband advised that resigning now won't resolve the issue as there are many roles and responsibilities which every MLA has to shoulder amid the crisis.
Clarifying that he is not clinging on to his seat of power , Joykisan added that he is ready to sacrifice  even his life if it can restore normalcy in Manipur.