By A Staff Reporter
Imphal, April 6: A sit-in-protest was staged today by people of Loktak Project area demanding the safe release of Alice Kamei, a class IX student of Grace Reach Academy, Hiyanglam by the RPF/PLA.
The sit-in was jointly organized by Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF); Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur (ZSUM) and Loktak Project Area Women Society at the Rani Gaidinlu Bazaar shed in Dimthanluang at Loktak Project Awang. It was participated by around 200 people of different communities including Aimol, Kom, Chiru, Meitei, Meitei-Pangal, non-Manipuri and students. The protesters were holding placards which read: “Save the child from child soldier”, “Children are all alike”, “Save School children”, “think Alice Kamei happened to be your daughter”, “Stop child recruit for armed cadre”, “let the child live freely” etc.
Alice’s father Chakri alias Punsichao Kamei and mother also took part in the demonstration today. Speaking to the media, Alice’s mother and other protesters said that RPF/PLA’s claim that Alice is 16 years old is not true and clarified that she is reading only in class IX and she was 14 years old. Alice is the girl child in her family of two siblings, they said. Sundari Kamei appealed for her daughter’s safe release saying that she is still too young to get involved in such things.
