Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CALCUTTA93
2006-02-24 10:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
KUKI LIBERATION ARMY ABDUCTS KUKI COMMUNITY LEADER DR.
how-toVZCZCXRO7497 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0093 0551008 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241008Z FEB 06 FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0812 INFO RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0291 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0993 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0757 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0170 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0096 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0175 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0121 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0291
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000093
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER ASEC KCRM SOCI IN
SUBJECT: KUKI LIBERATION ARMY ABDUCTS KUKI COMMUNITY LEADER DR.
LUNKIM IN MANIPUR
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000093
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER ASEC KCRM SOCI IN
SUBJECT: KUKI LIBERATION ARMY ABDUCTS KUKI COMMUNITY LEADER DR.
LUNKIM IN MANIPUR
1. (SBU) On January 17, the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) kidnapped
Chairman of the Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KMHR) and
Administrative Secretary of the Kuki Christian Church Dr.
Tongkhojang Lunkim in Senapati district of Manipur state in
Northeast India. While ostensibly fighting for an independent
Kuki homeland, the KLA is known more for abductions and
extortion. During a visit to Senapati to attend a meeting of
the village development council, Lunkim and three of his
colleagues met with KLA members. Subsequently, his colleagues
were allowed to depart but Lunkim was detained. The KLA is
reportedly demanding USD 226,00 for his release. The money has
not been paid and Lunkim remains in KLA's custody. Lunkim's
wife waited over two weeks, until February 6, to file a report
with the police, apparently in the hope that the family could
negotiate a quiet release for Lunkim from the KLA. In 2002
Lunkim's son, a senior official of a government telecom office,
was kidnapped by KLA and reportedly released on payment of a
large ransom. (Note: The KLA has a history of kidnapping for
ransom. In 2002 its members abducted the son of a former Chief
Minister and in 2003 a German NGO worker visiting Manipur.)
2. (SBU) According to Manipur-based human rights NGO Human
Rights Alert (protect),on February 17 KLA claimed that Lunkim
was "summoned in connection with a case relating to the
organization and Kuki politics in which he has meddled," and
"the truth of the situation is not abduction for ransom but a
penalty (fine) in lieu of capital punishment." A representative
of the NGO told post that the KLA alleges that Lunkim made
financial gains by brokering a ceasefire between the Indian army
and eight tribal insurgent outfits, including the KLA, in
Manipur in 2005. Kuki social organizations have appealed to the
KLA for his release and KMHR has apprised the National Human
Rights Commission of the case.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: This recent kidnapping reflects the
persistent law and order problem of insurgency-plagued Manipur,
a state with 15 active insurgencies. As a prominent Kuki
figure, Lunkim's kidnapping also demonstrates the complex and
often violent internal politics of the Kuki community.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PTER ASEC KCRM SOCI IN
SUBJECT: KUKI LIBERATION ARMY ABDUCTS KUKI COMMUNITY LEADER DR.
LUNKIM IN MANIPUR
1. (SBU) On January 17, the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) kidnapped
Chairman of the Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KMHR) and
Administrative Secretary of the Kuki Christian Church Dr.
Tongkhojang Lunkim in Senapati district of Manipur state in
Northeast India. While ostensibly fighting for an independent
Kuki homeland, the KLA is known more for abductions and
extortion. During a visit to Senapati to attend a meeting of
the village development council, Lunkim and three of his
colleagues met with KLA members. Subsequently, his colleagues
were allowed to depart but Lunkim was detained. The KLA is
reportedly demanding USD 226,00 for his release. The money has
not been paid and Lunkim remains in KLA's custody. Lunkim's
wife waited over two weeks, until February 6, to file a report
with the police, apparently in the hope that the family could
negotiate a quiet release for Lunkim from the KLA. In 2002
Lunkim's son, a senior official of a government telecom office,
was kidnapped by KLA and reportedly released on payment of a
large ransom. (Note: The KLA has a history of kidnapping for
ransom. In 2002 its members abducted the son of a former Chief
Minister and in 2003 a German NGO worker visiting Manipur.)
2. (SBU) According to Manipur-based human rights NGO Human
Rights Alert (protect),on February 17 KLA claimed that Lunkim
was "summoned in connection with a case relating to the
organization and Kuki politics in which he has meddled," and
"the truth of the situation is not abduction for ransom but a
penalty (fine) in lieu of capital punishment." A representative
of the NGO told post that the KLA alleges that Lunkim made
financial gains by brokering a ceasefire between the Indian army
and eight tribal insurgent outfits, including the KLA, in
Manipur in 2005. Kuki social organizations have appealed to the
KLA for his release and KMHR has apprised the National Human
Rights Commission of the case.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: This recent kidnapping reflects the
persistent law and order problem of insurgency-plagued Manipur,
a state with 15 active insurgencies. As a prominent Kuki
figure, Lunkim's kidnapping also demonstrates the complex and
often violent internal politics of the Kuki community.
JARDINE