Unfathomable horrors behind annual homage on Kuki Sahnit Ni

Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba *

Kuki refugees at Twaichong during Kuki-Naga clash :: Pix Courtesy- P Boyai

In the nineties of the last century, a five-year long incident characterized by magnitude of extreme barbaric violence un-witnessed in the history of modern Manipur was unleashed by a powerful militant group to achieve a goal which constantly has been creating ethnic tensions in this border state of India.

The terror, killings and un-precedent rape carried out allegedly by NSCN (IM) and its puppet Nagalim Guards, while indulging in the ethnic cleansing of the Kukis, particularly the Thadou Kukis, settled in interior parts of hill district had already begun since 1992.

The organised crime against humanity, or Kuki Genocide, is perhaps the first time in North East India, when a particular militant outfit and sections of people who supported them carried out a well-planned, organised and wanton massacre of ethnic Kuki civilians though in the past inter-tribal barbaric feuds did occurred.

Already there were ethnic tensions between this militant outfit and Manipuri Nagas, after a Kuki outfit proclaimed the desire for creation of a Kuki state which falls within the areas demanded by the militant NSCN (IM) for creation of Greater Nagalim, a concept which was in stark contrast to the legendary Phizo Angami's aspiration who fought the Nagas of Nagaland for the right to self-determination and sovereignty against India.

NSCN (IM) which currently is observing ceasefire agreement with the Centre indulged in extreme barbaric killings of innocent Kuki civilians who were under intense pressure and insecure as both the state and non-state actors had failed to protect the people.

In fact, the Kuki civilians were not even supported by brethren Paite and neighbouring Mizos of Mizoram while the pleadings to stop the killings by ethnic Meeteis, mostly vocals, remained unheard to the Manipuri Naga militants.

Quit notices

Quit notices, once served by this militant outfit means the concerned village was in a very dangerous situation and implied that the simple innocent villagers had to take immediate steps to leave the village at the earliest with every necessary item they can carry in order to live and escape the brutal killings of NSCN (IM) characterized by its barbaric nature.

The ethnic cleansing of ethnic Kuki civilians by NSCN (IM) has two reasons- political and hate for historical reasons. Fighting under the motto of "Nagaland for Christ", Manipuri Nagas militants many a times carried out killings in the most despicable and barbaric ways including insertion of bamboo sticks in the private parts of Kuki women, hatching by machetes, head-chopping of men and even toddlers. The civilians were not even given a chance to leave the world peacefully but by making the innocent people suffer in the most abominable manner against the ethnic Kukis who practices the same faith of Christianity.

Joupi massacre

September 13, a day, will remain etched in the memories of the descendants or relatives of those ethnic Kukis who fell in the hands of NSCN (IM). Located in Tamenglong district, Joupi, a small Kuki hamlet is surrounded by larger Manipuri Nagas villages and vulnerable to violence unleashed by the NSCN (IM).

When the villagers received the news of quit notices that the villagers of Joupi had to leave the village before September 15, 1993, Joupi civilians panicked and realized they have no time to waste and to abandon the village as soon as possible. The chance for survival was to reach Kangpokpi town.

Prior to the deadline served (September 15, 1993), by Manipuri Naga militants to leave the village, heavily armed Manipuri Naga activists had swooped upon the village on September 10 and indulged in violent activities, physical abuse of Kuki youths under gunpoint. Those who resisted were given no mercy and had to endure further physical abuses. That day, the militants of NSCN (IM) forcibly took with them the chief of Joupi village thereby creating further confusion amongst the Kuki youths who preferred immediate abandonment of the village and the elders as Chiefs in the ethnic Kuki society is very much important and part of the historical and cultural traditions.

Nevertheless, some 400 villagers including that of the nearest Zanglenphai village, decided to leave their respective villages on 12 September 1993. Unfortunately, before reaching the destination of Kangpokpi, the innocent civilians had to cross the Tamei Naga village after which their security was ensured in certain way.

Having reached the Tamei village late in the evening, the ethnic Kukis were allowed to go to Tamei town after disarming the youths of sharp-edged tools. Surprisingly, Manipuri Naga militants caught the scared and confused villagers, mostly the youths, and tied their hands behind the back.

Altogether 87 ethnic Kuki youths, were killed on this day-September 13. Elsewhere on the same day, the militants of NSCN (IM) also carried out systematic murders of other Kuki civilians at the village of Gelnel (13) and Santing in Senapati district (4) and at Nungthut village (3) in Tamenglong district thereby totalling the number of dead to 108 victims on that particular day, as per an article written by DM Kipgen back in 2005.

Kuki Black Day (Sahnit Ni)

Annually observed as Kuki Black Day (Sahnit Ni), to pay homage to those who felled in the hands of NSCN (IM), Sahnit Ni in Thadou dialect refers to "mourning period" of those who died as a result of "unnatural causes", according to a senior Thadou civilian.

The activities of NSCN (IM) also received international condemnation as BBC World referred to it as 'ethnic cleansing by Naga separatists' while US-based media CNN termed it as "genocide."

During the carnage, that occurred during the period when Rishang Keishing and RK Dorendro Sana was the chief minister of Manipur state, the genocide has been referred to as "Memories that don't fade away" by the US-based respected scholar Nehginpao Kipgen in an article.

Ineffective Imphal-Moreh peace march

Security forces, both the state and the Centre, deployed to control the conflict was helpless to some extent because of lack of manpower and even if they have, most of them could not patrol and control the whole of the hill areas where NSCN (IM) reigned supreme before the singing of the Ceasefire agreement in 1997.

Even the often ignored and unknown, Imphal Moreh peace march led by Chief Minister RK Dorendro Sana to halt the killings did not yield any positive result.

Meanwhile, of recently, the observation of Kuki Black Day has been opposed by sections of certain groups for purposes unbeknownst to the general public.

Counter claims

Often it has been brought to justify that "Kuki genocide by NSCN (IM) militants" is a repetition of history by sections of Manipuri Nagas citing that several Manipuri Nagas were massacred during the Kuki Rebellion (1917-1919), however there exists a difference.

During the Kuki Rebellion, Thadou Kuki chiefs and the men were then mostly uneducated and accustomed to tribal ways of life characterized by head-hunting as any other tribes in the world used to be.

However, the Joupi massacre and ethnic cleansing of the Kukis, that occurred was carried out by the politically advanced Manipuri Nagas militants of NSCN (IM) and the Nagalim guards in a systematic manner, leaving aside the "principles of Christianity" against fellow Christians- Kukis.

Ironically, NSCN (IM) carries out its activities under the motto of "Nagaland for Christ" but also indulges in barbaric killings of innocent Kuki civilians including women and toddlers.

During the ethnic cleansing of the Kukis, the Thadou Kukis who were at the receiving end, tried to protect their people by forming Kuki militias in order to defend themselves from the onslaught of NSCN (IM).

In retaliation to the brutalities directed against Kuki civilians, one incident that could be recalled in connection with the killings is that Kuki militias forcibly stopped and entered a passenger bus a few distance away from Sinam in Tamenglong district and asked all ethnic Meeteis to come out of the bus, as there was and has never been any enmity between Thadou Kukis and the ignorant Meeteis. Some of them obliged while some did not as the feud was not with ethnic Meeteis. Those who did not comply were left to their unfortunate destiny.

Various accounts of the total number of Kuki civilians hacked to death on September 13, ranges from 105 to more, as per Kuki scholars and writers who actually knew the 5 years devastating experience from NSCN (IM).