Manipur Tapes: N. Biren Singh Must be Prosecuted, Say KUKI-Zo MLAs; Reiterate Demand for Separate Administration

Taking serious note of the “Manipur Tapes” expose wherein the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh had candidly boasted about his role in the ethnic persecution of the tribal Kuki-Zo community, the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs have said that the complicity of the Chief Minister in the state sponsored ethnic cleansing, which they have always maintained since day one, has now been established beyond an iota of doubt.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Members of Legislative Assembly from Kuki-Zo community said, “The CM can be clearly heard reassuring his audience, which from his tone and tenor can safely be assumed to be members of his militia, that they (central agencies) have to arrest him first before any of them, and that they should not promptly show up when summoned to give him time to intervene.”

“The tapes also reveal how the Union Home Minister had chastised him for authorizing the use of Bombs on civilians, and how after the UHM had left, he had instructed the police top brass to use bombs clandestinely going forward, defying the UHM’s directions,” MLAs said.

The Kuki-Zo people’s representatives stated that the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, could also be heard boasting before his minions as to how he ensured that nobody is arrested in connection with the looting of 4000-5000 arms and ammunition from the state forces. He can also be heard appealing that Kukis can throw abuses at him, and rightly so because he had caused the death of about 300 of them, but that Meiteis should not throw abuse at him.

“These and many more self-incriminating statements can be clearly heard from the leaked tapes, which have been submitted to the Judicial Commission headed by Justice Lamba,” said the statement.

“Confirming the  authenticity of the tapes, Rajendro Nong, brother to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, can be seen threatening those who sold  out  such sensitive tapes to others on Facebook,” it added.

The MLAs, therefore, demanded that the commission must expedite its process and that N. Biren Singh must be prosecuted for his crimes if his guilt is established. He must also be immediately debarred from the office of the Chief Minister so that he is prevented from influencing the outcome of the probe against him, the MLAs said.

The Kuki-Zo MLAs, once again, appealed to the Government of India to expedite their demand  for  separate   administration   in the form of  UT  with  Legislature,  as  that alone is the path to lasting peace in the region.