Dimapur, June 15 (MExN): The Kuki National organisation (KSO) strongly alleged that the UNLF’s intrusive presence in Kuki territory is the main source of trouble and added that the UNLF is apparently trying to occupy Kuki lands through force and guile.
The Under-Secretary, Information and Publicity of KNO Zale’n-gam, Stephen Kuki, in a press statement received here, blamed UNLF’s ‘intrusive presence on Kuki territory, as the main source of the tension, deaths and mishaps that have occurred in which innocent Kukis were killed either by landmines or in counter-offensive operation by the Assam Rifles to UNLF’s ambushes.
Stephen Kuki said that the ‘revolutionary movement’ as espoused by the UNLF will never justify the killings of Kukis in their own lands. He alleged that it is now perfectly apparent that UNLF’s main objective is to occupy Kuki lands through guile, intimidation and absurd propaganda. However, Stephen categorically said, “UNLF’s rhetoric of a ‘movement’ and targeting Kukis plainly will not jell”.
Stephen said that the Kuki National organisation is for ‘Zale’n-gam’: the Kuki nation and added the KNO in keeping with its stand seeks to protect its people in any part of ‘Zale’n-gam’ from their adversaries.
Giving some points to the UNLF on how to achieve their objectives, Stephen said that if UNLF wants to achieve their political goals, then ‘they must articulate their ideology exclusive to the Meitei people whom they represent and they must desist from including Kukis in a movement, which is in direct contradiction to the interest of the Kuki people’. He also called upon the UNLF to emphasize Kukis’ position. In this regard, he said that the UNLF must publicly respect and acknowledge that Kukis have their own political objectives based on their historical experience and for a future in which other ethnic entities will not interfere any further.
Stephen also said that the UNLF is hell bent on removal of the Assam Rifles from Kuki area as the AR, being a neutral force, protects the citizens of the country. He said that the UNLF wants the AR removal so that they can continue to abuse Kukis and their lands.
Stephen also said that it is not only the landmines planted by the UNLF, that is preventing the Kukis to return to their lands, but also the presence of the UNLF that is acting as a major deterrence, he said.
The KNO Under-Secretary, Information and Publicity, Stephen Kuki also strongly questioned, ‘Why do UNLF stay in Kuki territory?’ Is it because UNLF do not want to recognise the lands as Kuki territory? Is there a hidden agenda, such as forcibly converting Kuki areas as part of Meitei dominated Manipur? Is Moreh, a lucrative border trading zone, a factor that motivates their dominating tendencies?
However, categorically said that UNLF must realise they have no basis whatsoever to include the Kuki people in their armed struggle against the Government of India. If their struggle is truly against GOI, then they must carry out their activities in Meitei territory, which is the valley called Manipur. Including Kuki people in UNLF’s movement does not legitimate their presence and activities on Kuki lands.
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