Imphal, March 28: The Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) today owned up to the abduction of Bonn-based social worker Heinrich Wolfgang and said his fate depended on the outcome of a “weeklong investigation” by its cadre into the motive behind German funding of development projects in Manipur.
A spokesman for the militant outfit said Wolfgang would remain in captivity till such time the integrity of his NGO, Evangelicher Entwicklungs Dienst, was established.
The statement was issued even as a team of representatives of local NGOs and the Church was preparing to resume negotiations with the abductors. Similar discussions were held over the past two days, but the negotiators failed to convince the militants to free their German hostage.
There was expectation in the air — some said Wolfgang would be released by evening — when the KLA invited a team of local journalists to a news conference at an undisclosed location in Imphal East district. A team comprising members of NGOs, women’s groups and Church leaders, too, left Imphal around noon to continue negotiations with the outfit’s leadership.
The self-styled director of the KLA’s information and publicity wing, Malson Vaiphei, claimed that his outfit had not abducted Wolfgang for ransom. He said documents found in the social worker’s possession had raised suspicion about the motive of Evangelicher Entwicklungs Dienst in funding development activity in the state.
“We have doubts about the motive of the foreign NGO. We suspect a political motive behind its activities. Moreover, such development schemes have not been launched in the Kuki-dominated areas. We will conduct an investigation for a week to find out the real motive of the German NGO,” Vaiphei said.
The militant leader said Wolfgang would remain in captivity till such time that the investigation was completed and his NGO found to be above board. He assured that the German social worker was “safe and sound” in his outfit’s custody.
A senior German diplomat has been camping in Imphal since Wednesday to ensure that Wolfgang is freed at the earliest. He met the team of negotiators before they left the capital to establish contact with the abductors.
Wolfgang was taken hostage on March 23 while returning to Imphal after monitoring the progress of a project near the Maphou Dam in Imphal East district. The Volunteers for Village Development is executing the project.
The NSCN (K) today said the “freedom movement” could suffer because of mistakes such as Wolfgang’s abduction.