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INFO RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0291
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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