Dimapur, June 11 (MExN): In the back drop of the conflict and turmoil in Moreh town in Manipur between two communities, the Kuki Inpi (Kuki Traditional Government) today sought an appointment with the Prime Minister of India to get some clarification from the government of India with regard to the hardships that the Kuki community has been subjected to.
A letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, by the Kuki Inpi sought clarification from the GOI with regard to “systematic degradation, NSCN (IM) aggression, the UNLF illegal occupation of Kuki lands and the planting of landmines, mass rape of innocent women, the total negligence and marginalization of the Kuki people ever since India’s independence.
The Kuki Inpi stated that during the independence of India and Burma, the Kuki country, though never annexed, and though their consent was never taken into account whether to merger into the Indian or Burmese union, remained silent in the hope that both the government would be good and beneficial to the Kuki people. However, the Kuki Inpi stated that during the past 50 years or more it is being observed that both governments have been trying to take away their lands by coercion and degradation from being a ruling nation to the status of refugees in their own lands and reminded that the Kuki people fought a great war against the British rule and never surrendered.
The Kuki Inpi also stated that the “NSCN (I-M) civil body, the United Naga Council (UNC)” served Quit Notice to all Kukis in 1992, warning Kukis of facing dire consequences if they do not leave their lands. The Inpi stated that they assumed that the Indian government would protect them, however, that the release stated that the NSCN (IM) carried out its threat and killed over 900 innocent people, uprooted over 360 villages and displaced over 1,00,000 people.
The Inpi stated that over 60 memoranda have been submitted to the Indian Prime Ministers like P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral, Atal Behari Vajpayee and now to him, Manmohan Singh for appropriate action in accordance with Indian law. ‘No adequate action has been taken up so far’ lamented the Inpi.
The Inpi then pointed out that a valley based insurgent group, the UNLF, illegally occupies the Kuki lands, particularly Chandel and Churachandpur districts in Manipur State since the year 2000.
The Kuki Inpi while briefing the PM about the excesses of the UNLF, stated that the UNLF, violating international laws, planted landmines which killed 33 people, maimed many more, prevented the people to earn their living, murdered innocent villagers including village Chiefs, committed arson, looting money and other valuables, and to top it all, raped many innocent young women.
“Documents of all these cases have already been submitted to your government” stated the Inpi in this regard, and added that though complaints have been made to both the State and Central Governments, no remedial measures have been taken up so far.
The Inpi also pointed out the recent forcible abduction of over 400 Kuki farmers by the UNLF to Myanmar on March 13, 2007 and the subsequent inhuman treatment meted out to the Kuki Students Organisations (KSO) members who were staging a protest in Delhi against the agitation.
After citing all the above points, the Kuki Inpi strongly demanded a complete clarification from the Government of India as to why the Kukis are treated in ‘this manner’, by degrading them from ‘rulers to refugees’.
The Inpi also stated that the successive Indian Prime Ministers and Home Ministers have declined their request for meeting them.
In this connection the Kuki Inpi asked the Indian Government to fix a convenient and suitable time for an official meeting with the Kuki leaders to tell them the reason why “
Therefore, the honorable Prime Minister is hereby requested to fix a convenient time suitable to you for an official meeting with the Kuki leaders to tell us the reasons why “Indian Independence” became the “destruction of the Kuki people”.
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