ANUP SHARMA | Guwahati, May 4: When Lalzarliana, Lalbiakhluna and Vanlalhruaia — all rebels of the Mizo National Front — came overground in 1986 after the signing of the Mizo Accord, they had dreams in their eyes of leading free lives after decades of running in the forest.
But the story of the three former MNF rebels could come as a big turn-off for militants in the Northeast planning to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.
The three surviving comrades-in-arms of late MNF chief Laldenga, who led the two decade long Mizo insurgency, are still fighting court cases which were slapped against them many years ago in the neighbouring state of Manipur. The continuation of the criminal charges in Manipur since 1984 is contrary to the general amnesty issued to all the 720 MNF rebels after the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord in 1986.
“Almost all of our colleagues received general amnesty under the provisions of the Mizoram Peace Accord and all cases were dropped. However, the cases against the three are yet to be dropped and they have to visit the court almost regularly,” C. Zama, treasurer of the Ex-Mizo National Army (MNA) Association told The Telegraph over phone from Aizawl.
Though the three rebels refused to speak, Zama said: “In 2004, we met the then Manipur home minister T.N. Haokip. Although he had assured us that he would take up the matter, nothing has happened. The association also submitted several petitions to the Prime Minister and the President earlier but to no avail.
“We fought in the jungles for 20 long years to attain statehood for the then Lushai Hills of Assam as Mizoram. Our chief Laldenga became the chief minister of the new state in 1987, Zama said.
The three former MNF rebels — Lalzarliana of Thenzawl district, Lalbiakhluna of Kolasib district and Vanlalhruaia of Churachandpur district in Manipur face robbery charges filed against them at Churachandpur police station (case no 103(6)/1984 under Section 395/397/121 (A)/307/120 of the IPC).
The birth of the MNF is a fascinating tale. The MNF initially started as a voluntary organisation called the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) in 1959-60 to tackle the worst natural calamity in recent history — mautam — a famine induced by the widespread flowering of bamboo which returns every 50 years.
This Front provided relief to the famine-stricken. Later, it converted itself into a political party called the MNF. In 1966, the MNF president declared an “independent sovereign” Mizoram as the party’s goal and declared war against India, launching a simultaneous attack on government installations.
The insurgency ended with the signing of the peace accord. Laldenga died in 1990, following which the Congress came back to power in the state. Laldenga’s second-in-command, Zoramthanga, finally led the MNF back into contention in 1998 and then again in 2003. He was chief minister till 2008. “Zoramthanga himself wrote to Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in 2002 to drop the cases against the three former MNF soldiers. However, nothing happened,” said Zama.
Source: THE TELEGRAPH INDIA
But the story of the three former MNF rebels could come as a big turn-off for militants in the Northeast planning to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.
The three surviving comrades-in-arms of late MNF chief Laldenga, who led the two decade long Mizo insurgency, are still fighting court cases which were slapped against them many years ago in the neighbouring state of Manipur. The continuation of the criminal charges in Manipur since 1984 is contrary to the general amnesty issued to all the 720 MNF rebels after the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord in 1986.
“Almost all of our colleagues received general amnesty under the provisions of the Mizoram Peace Accord and all cases were dropped. However, the cases against the three are yet to be dropped and they have to visit the court almost regularly,” C. Zama, treasurer of the Ex-Mizo National Army (MNA) Association told The Telegraph over phone from Aizawl.
Though the three rebels refused to speak, Zama said: “In 2004, we met the then Manipur home minister T.N. Haokip. Although he had assured us that he would take up the matter, nothing has happened. The association also submitted several petitions to the Prime Minister and the President earlier but to no avail.
“We fought in the jungles for 20 long years to attain statehood for the then Lushai Hills of Assam as Mizoram. Our chief Laldenga became the chief minister of the new state in 1987, Zama said.
The three former MNF rebels — Lalzarliana of Thenzawl district, Lalbiakhluna of Kolasib district and Vanlalhruaia of Churachandpur district in Manipur face robbery charges filed against them at Churachandpur police station (case no 103(6)/1984 under Section 395/397/121 (A)/307/120 of the IPC).
The birth of the MNF is a fascinating tale. The MNF initially started as a voluntary organisation called the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) in 1959-60 to tackle the worst natural calamity in recent history — mautam — a famine induced by the widespread flowering of bamboo which returns every 50 years.
This Front provided relief to the famine-stricken. Later, it converted itself into a political party called the MNF. In 1966, the MNF president declared an “independent sovereign” Mizoram as the party’s goal and declared war against India, launching a simultaneous attack on government installations.
The insurgency ended with the signing of the peace accord. Laldenga died in 1990, following which the Congress came back to power in the state. Laldenga’s second-in-command, Zoramthanga, finally led the MNF back into contention in 1998 and then again in 2003. He was chief minister till 2008. “Zoramthanga himself wrote to Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in 2002 to drop the cases against the three former MNF soldiers. However, nothing happened,” said Zama.
Source: THE TELEGRAPH INDIA
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