KUKI LIBERATION ARMY RELEASE KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER DR.

UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000123 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PHUM SOCI PGOV ASEC IN SUBJECT: KUKI LIBERATION ARMY RELEASE KIDNAPPED CHRISTIAN LEADER DR. TONGKOJANG LUNKIM REF: A) CALCUTTA 0093 B) CALCUTTA 00100 ¶1. (SBU) On March 18, the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur released Chairman of the Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KMHR) and Administrative Secretary of the Kuki Christian Church Dr. Tongkhojang Lunkim after two months of captivity. The KLA returned him in good health to Kuki community leaders in the Sadar Hills area of Manipur. The KLA had kidnapped Lunkim and held him for ransom since January ¶17. ¶2. (SBU) Although it is not clear what eventually led to his release, contacts indicate Lunkim apologized to the KLA for what they regarded as his anti-KLA activities. Lunkim's family also reportedly paid a sum of money to the KLA, which had earlier demanded a ransom in excess of USD 200,000. ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: The safe release of the elderly Lunkim marked a happy end to a very sensitive case. However, Lunkim's long detention does reflect the continued lawlessness in Manipur, where kidnapping is a frequent occurrence, often resolved with little state government involvement. JARDINE