SIPHRO

Aizawl, January 24, 2006: The Hmar Students Association (HSA) headquartered here blamed the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) for the harassment caused to the Hmar community of south Manipur.

Yesterday, the UNLF denied having any hand in the exodus of Hmar villagers to Mizoram. Instead, it pointed a finger at the Hmar insurgent group Hmar Peoples Convention (Democratic), saying it regularly extorted “taxes” from the Hmars.

The students’ organisation said the UNLF had been the root cause of all trouble for the Hmars in south Manipur. It accused the UNLF cadre of shooting at Mizoram police from the border areas of Manipur, and then taking refuge in the state’s villages.

“It is the same people who shot at the Mizoram police outposts at Vaitin and New Vervek who are now causing hardship for the Hmar people living in Manipur. Terrorising women and children, as well as beating up a pastor, they have asked the villagers to appeal to their Christian God for help. They have also told Hmar villagers to go to Mizoram since they call themselves Hmar Mizos. It is high time that ethnic Mizo groups unite, as unity is strength,” said a statement issued by the association yesterday.

Citing the trouble that erupted between Hmars and Dimasas in 2003 and the present situation, the statement urged the community to unite against subversive forces.

“Zohnahthlak (ethnic Mizo tribes) should unite as it appears that Mizo tribes living outside Mizoram will face persecution in times to come. We should remember that our main house (inpui) is in Mizoram,” the statement said in an apparent exhortation to the Paites.

The statement also mentioned that it was the UNLF, and not the PLA, as alleged, that had killed Manipur IGP 9intelligence) T.P. Thangthuam on December 31. The IGP belonged to the Paite tribe.

Source: Telegraph