Kut celebrated in gaiety CM praises Kuki militants, asks others also to come out

Imphal, November 01 2008: MANIPUR CHIEF Minister, O Ibobi on Saturday has called the valley militants to come out for peace talk while reiterating that many hill based militants come to the negotiating table while giving his speech as chief guest at the state level Kut Festival, a harvesting festival of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribe at the parade ground of the 1st Manipur Rifles ground, Imphal.

He said, with no peace in the land development cannot be marched ahead and government want to maintain peace at any cost for development.

So valley based underground groups should come out like the hill based groups and join to the effort of the state government to bring peace in the state.

Mention may be made that Kuki based militant groups under the banners of the Kuki National Organization, KNO and United Peoples' Front, UPF had signed a trilateral agreement on suspension of operation, SoO, with the Central and state government and the same is in force since August 22 this year.

Ibobi also said that any "intentional violation" of the agreement of the SoO by any groups comprising in the two bodies will be deal seriously while cautioning the militants groups bounded by the agreement not to break the ground rules as agreed by them.

All together 19 Kuki based militant groups including 11 under KNO and eight under the UPF agreed to follow the agreement.

"Now time has arrived to come out by the other valley based underground groups and initiate talks with the government," Ibobi said.

Earlier, it can be recalled that state government has announced that negotiation are underway for bringing one of the valley-based militant groups under a similar suspension of operation agreement.

The same is also mentioned in the October issued of the News Latter of the state police department in connection with its October 19 last.

Meanwhile, Kut festival celebrated its traditional harvesting festival in a fanfare manner in every villages inhabitant by the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups.

Various district level functions apart from state level at Imphal 1st MR ground were also held in Chandel and Churachandpur district.

The inaugural function of the state level function was apart from the chief minister also attended by ministers like PHED minister Phungjathang, MLAs like Gaikhangam, Y Shurchandra and Dr Kh Loken etc.

and top officials of state government and security forces establishments.

Chief minister donated Rs.one lakh to the organizing committee.

Miss Kut contest which would be the main attraction items of the state level function and other district level function are on and likely to conclude late tonight.

Source: Hueiyen News Service