'Forgotten Heroes' demand Mizo Peace Accord Fulfilment

Aizawl, June 15 (UNI) As Remni Ni (India-Mizo National Front Peace Accord Day, June 20) is approaching, the members of Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (Pamra) today called on their former leader and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga to ensure fulfilment of accord in letter and spirit.

Led by Parma president B Zorampara the members today called on the Chief Minister and submitted an 80-point charter of demands, setting June 30 as deadline to concede the demands. The demands mainly focussed on resettlement of the surrendered MNF rebels following the 1986 peace settlement.

''We have been waiting long for our resettlement. We had high hope in the MNF ministry, but the ten-year-old government has given us nothing. Actually it is worse than the previous Congress ministry,'' Mr Zorampara told UNI.

He alleged that ''their former bosses in the jungle are now living a royal-like lifestyle and they (the lower ranks) are still leading a life not much better than the jungle life.'' ''We had spent all our youthful days for the MNF movement, and then we came overground after promises of houses, government jobs and many others. Had we known that we would be neglected like this, we would never have gone underground. Had we foreseen our present status, we would never have come overground,'' Mr Zorampara lamented.

''We are not demanding what is not for us, but we are only demanding what have been promised to us in the MNF-Ind a peace agreement 1986,'' he said.

Mr Zorampara, however, had not held the Centre responsible for non-fulfillment of the peace accord.

He said, ''If the state government makes proposals, I don't think the Centre will be reluctant to give. It is ironically our own MNF government which is neglecting us.'' The MNF leaders not only forget the mortal remains of those, who had laid down their lives for their leader's dreamland, they also fail to look after the martyrs' families, according to Pamra leader.

''With much efforts, we are rescuing them (the martyrs' families) from starvation. Pamra is organising a get-together for all the surrendered MNF rebels and their families, who are yet to be 'reached' by the India-MNF Accord on June 30 in Aizawl where they will decide their future course of action,'' he said.

According to Mr Zorampara, there are 490 MNF returnees in the Pamra.

About 580 MNF members came overground following the historic Peace Accord which brought an end to the 20-year-long insurgency in Mizoram.

UNI