'UNC's fictitious claim is an insult to freedom fighters,' says KIM
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, November 07 2019:
Apropos the UNC's 'chanting' of being 'indigenous to the State' published in media on November 7, Kuki Inpi Manipur has urged the UNC to instead ponder on their "immigration from Somra tracts and their subsequent settlements in Kuki ancestral lands by paying tax and levies to Kuki chiefs" .
KIM vice president (Political Affairs), Sominthang Doungel alleged that the "NSCN(IM)'s open-secret support which emboldened them (the UNC) to question even a well established history of the Kuki people, who recently commemorated 100 years Anglo-Kuki war, is a little far fetched even for an organisation which has served as a mouth piece for NSCN-(IM)" .
"The infamous ethnic cleansing designed by the NSCN(IM) towards the indigenous Kuki people in their unholy pursuit to grab the ancestral lands of the Kukis had witnessed direct involvement of the UNC, which served quit notices to hundreds of Kuki villages," he claimed.
"While the Kuki people had a glorious history of defending their ancestral land even against the mighty British, the Nagas were silent spectators.
It is this inerasable history of shame for the Nagas that compelled them to desperately brand the Kukis as non-indigenous to camouflage their highly questionable infiltration," he alleged.
Doungel further said that UNC's claims and "provocative" statements may hinder peace amongst the communities.
While wishing the Nagas the very best for their Framework Agreement, KIM urged authorities concerned not to include land inhabited by Kukis into the 'proposed Naga Autonomous Council' .
It is high time the Government of India acknowledged the rights and aspirations of the Kukis, he said.