Dimapur, June 26 (MExN): The Kuki National Organisation strongly alleged a nexus between Manipur Chief Minister and the UNLF to promote ‘Meitei-centric ethos’ in Manipur by marganilising the indigenous Kuki people.
The Under Secretary, Information and Publicity of the Kuki National Organisation, Stephen Kuki in a press statement received here, said that in spite of immense and commendable efforts of the Kukis to contain the volatile situation in Moreh arising out of the aggressions of UNLF on Kuki soil, “a stark revelation has emerged confirming suspicions of a nexus between the proscribed militant outfit UNLF and O Ibobi, chief minister of Manipur”.Giving evidence of their allegation, Stephen said that the Manipur state government in the June 9 incident deprived the Kuki victims of any compensation where many people from both the Kuki and the Meitei communities perished.
Stephen said that O Ibobi Singh’s assurance to provide all possible help including ex-gratia to the bereaved families, conduct judicial enquiry into the Moreh killings and to punish the culprits, erect a memorial tomb in honour of the deceased victims at Moreh at the expense of the State Government and also has been made totally excluding the Kukis, simply because of the UNLF claim the five Kuki men killed were cadres of KNA. This, Stephen said is a self-evident proof of their existing nexus and also of scheming Manipur only for the Meiteis.
“Under normal circumstances, a leader of a state would ensure that governmental declarations are free of any hint of prejudice, especially given the incident at Moreh, where persons belonging to both communities perished,” said Stephen.
In this regard, Stephen strongly alleged that the true colours of O Ibobi and UNLF are now in the open by default, i.e. to promote a Meitei-centric ethos in the so-called state of Manipur by marginalizing the indigenous Kuki people.
Stephen further alleged that the O Ibobi has canvassed hard at New Delhi to remove the Assam Rifles from Moreh and replace them with the IRB; a state force dominated by Meiteis, who flagrantly are communal. Stephen said that this demand for removal of the AR can also be attributed to the pressures of UNLF, who want to rule the roost in Chandel District in cahoots with the state forces), and added that “some parts of which they have already declared as ‘Liberated Zone’ after the AR withdrew”.
He said that the demand for AR’s removal highlights is the fact that the Kuki people need to have self-determination in order to be constitutionally secure in their own lands with issues of law and order being in their favour.
“O Ibobi and UNLF’s mutual demand for removing AR proves their connivance and reveals the status quo in Manipur, which does not favour Kukis even in their own soil” said Stephen.
Stephen said that the Kuki people are fed up not only of being persistently intimidated by various Meitei elements on their soil, and added that there must be an immediate equitable political solution based on history and land ownership for both communities once and for all.
“Kukis will no longer tolerate discrimination. Kukis will chalk out their own political future to ensure there will be security, stability and proper development” he said.
In this regard, Stephen said that the KNO will, under no circumstances, allow a memorial tomb in honour of the deceased Meitei victims to be erected at Moreh, though such a memorial may be built by the Meitei government in any part of Kangleipak or in the Manipuri valley.
Stephen also said that the Meitei dominated government of Manipur may go ahead and compensate the bereaved families and provide jobs to the next of kins of Meiteis victims.
However, the KNO consoled the Kuki affected families and asked them not to be dismayed by O Ibobi’s ‘communally biased declarations’ favouring only Meiteis. He said that the KNO pledges that at the appropriate time a fitting and honourable memorial, including generous compensation and suitable jobs for the victims of UNLF at Moreh town would be borne by the Kuki Government of Zale’n-gam.
Stephen also called upon the Meiteis to let wisdom prevail among the Meitei public as the Meiteis will always be neighbours with Kukis.
He said that the KNO, therefore, exhorts Meiteis that if their culture and people are to progress even more than they already have, they must be constrained to exercise humanitarian values towards other communities.
KNO also urged the UNLF withdraw completely from Kuki areas and go to the valley part of Manipur, saying that the intrusive presence of UNLF in Kuki territory that has caused the people indelible harm.
The KNO also called upon the Manipur Chief Minister to strive effortlessly and without any inhibition to promote Meitei culture and their people in the valley called Manipur
Further, the KNO said that the humanitarian efforts and deeds of UNLF and O Ibobi, if exercised towards the Kuki people, will certainly be recognized and duly honoured by the international community, and even added that the Kuki people will be the first to acknowledge it.
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