Looking for ally, desperately
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 14, 2023 -

After years of petitioning the Government of India for resolving the Kuki political issue first before any final deal is made on the protracted Naga peace talk, the decision that the Kukis in Kangpokpi district would avoid hoisting of black flags and donning of black clothes on the day of observing Sahnit Ni or Black Day on September 13 this year may have come as a bit of a surprise to some people.

But if one is aware of the subtle hints that have been given here and there by the Kuki civil societies organisations, there is nothing to be surprised about the announcement at all.

The decision to do away with hoisting of black flags at every household and along the roadside as well as donning of black clothes on the occasion of Sahnit Ni was said to have been taken during a meeting attended by top civil society organisations of the Kukis in Kangpokpi district along with prominent Kuki leaders on Septembers.

The meeting, which was reportedly held under the aegis of Sadar Hills Chiefs' Association at the district headquarters of Kangpokpi, also said to have resolved that the annual September 13 event would be observed as Prayer Day for Peace in Kangpokpi district this time and there would be no mass congregation of people.

Although the announcement did not say anything explicitly about offering olive branch to the Nagas, against whom the Kuki civil societies, more particularly Kuki Inpi Manipur, until very recently made it a point to send out a representation to the Government of India pleading for doing justice to the Kuki people who were victims of an alleged ethnic cleansing carried out by NSCN (IM) in the early 1990s ahead of any scheduled talk on Naga peace process, the message was clear enough.

Now, isolated by all after creating enmity with all, what the Kukis are trying to do has been made more than evidently clear from "An appeal to the Naga community of Manipur" issued by the Kuki People's Alliance (KPA).

In the appeal, KPA said that it accepts and supports the decision of Kuki Chiefs and civil societies of Kangpokpi district taken on 5th September, 2023 to refrain from displaying black flags and wearing of black attire on the solemn occasion of Sahriit Ni, the long-observed Kukis' Black Day, on September 13 and to instead observe the coming day as Prayer Day for Peace.

The appeal of KPA issued and signed by its Secretary, Publicity and Information Sominthang Doungel did not beat around the bush and hesitate from saying, "It is a conciliatory gesture to bury the hatchet and to bury the past.

It is a positive move for future peace and development.

It is a reach out to the Naga community, who have been every helpful both in kind and social support during the ensuing Meetei assault on the Kukis, with a clear message that we can build our future together in mutual respect, mutual trust and co-operation.

KPA takes the occasion to appeal for an all Manipur Tribal unity towards the call for a separate administration."

Coming close behind the support pledged by Kuki Inpi Manipur to the mass rally organized by United Naga Council (UNC) on August 9 last to press the demand for early settlement of the Naga issue based on the Framework Agreement signed with the government of India, the decision to tone down the observance Sahnit Ni as well as the appeal of KPA to the Naga community could at best be described as the last desperate attempt of the belligerent Kukis to look out for allies in the ongoing conflict with the Meitei/Meetei community, by playing with the tribal unity card once again.