ANSAM expresses anger at Kuki-Zo apology

Imphal, Jul 26 (PTI): An influential Naga students’ organisation in Manipur on Friday expressed anger at the apology issued by the Kuki Zo Council over the killing of six Naga hostages in the state.
The reaction comes after Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet on Thursday apologised for the incident and called for an impartial investigation into all acts of violence linked to the ongoing ethnic strife in the state.
In a statement, All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) expressed its “strongest indignation” and “repudiated the so-called apology issued by leaders of Kuki-Zo Council on the brutal murder of the six Naga hostages after abduction”.
The Kuki Zo Council admitted the role of the community in killing the six Naga civilians who were abducted on May 13 from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district. Their bodies were recovered on June 10 from the vicinity of a Kuki Zo village.
The recovery took place a day after 14 Kuki individuals, who were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district nearly a month ago, were released.
ANSAM, the apex body of Naga students and youths in the state, also said, “The statement issued by KZC neither constitutes an apology nor an admission of the unlawful and inhumane crime.” It also asserted that “no apology can be deemed credible, sincere and acceptable until the perpetrators responsible for the abduction, torture, mutilation and brutal killing of the six innocent Naga hostages are identified, apprehended and punished in accordance with the rule of law.”