KERUF commemorates second Karbi Peace Accord

DIPHU — The first annual general meeting of the Karbi Ex-Revolutionary United Forum (KERUF)-cum-commemoration of second Karbi Peace Accord was held here at Joysing Doloi auditorium on Monday.

The KERUF is a common platform of six former armed organisations – Karbi Longri and NC Liberation Front (KLNLF), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA), People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK) – and three factions of Karbi Liberation Tigers (KPLT) which have signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with both the central and state governments on September 4, 2021.

The two-day gathering discussed various issues including withdrawal of cases, release of ex-gratia to next of kin of deceased cadres, stipend to be given to each cadre and the slow response of the government on implementation of the clauses of the MoS.

The erstwhile groups had on September 4, 2021, signed a peace agreement with both the central and state governments for permanent peace and development of the region.

The former PDCK leader Kongkat Teron said it was under the initiative of ‘Team Karbi Anglong’ (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council – KAAC authority) that the MoS was signed.

But even after two years, the central and state governments are not taking any initiative for proper implementation of the clauses of the agreement, he said.

Former publicity secretary of KLNLF and spokesperson, KERUF, Willingson Phangcho also accused the central and state governments of delaying implementation of MoS-2.

Both the governments should be serious enough to implement the clauses that are in the MoS, he said and added that the KERUF will pursue with the present government for the implementation of the accord.  

In the open session, MP Horensing Bey said that the KERUF is a platform to express problems and difficulties of its members and urged them to continue to pressurise the Centre and state government for full implementation of MoS-2 signed by the leaders of six erstwhile armed organisations.

Bey was also former general secretary of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) that signed an MoS with the central government in 2011.

Superintendent of Police, Karbi Anglong, Sanjib Kumar Saikia, said that with the signing of MoS, peace has been restored in the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.

The police officer asked the former armed leaders to adhere to the principles of the MoS.

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