Kukis seek Centre's intervention
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, May 22 2023:
Accusing the Centre of keeping silent for so long, the Kukis during a sit protest held at Kangpokpi today sought immediate intervention to address their grievances amid the present crisis.
Thousands of Kukis, mostly women, congregated at Brig M Thomas ground holding banners and placards that read, "No forceful peace", "Don't bulldoze public sentiment", "Why is the Central Government still silent when our people are killed, our houses, and Churches burnt", "What about Arambai Tengol? What about Meitei Leepun?", "Declare Arambai Tengol and Meitei Leepun as an outlawed organization", "Past is not past, Gone is not Gone, Down Down Biren", "Cries and miseries of the tribal Kukis remain unheard", "We demand the immediate intervention of the Centre Government", etc.
The sit-in protest organized by the Committee on Tribals Unity, Sadar Hills was also joined by the internally displaced persons shifted to Kangpokpi district.
Janghaolun Haokip, convenor of Media cells, Committee on Tribals Unity, Sadar Hills, said the Centre has been silent on the issue and asked why the Central Government has not removed the Chief Minister even after he admitted his Government's failure over the present crisis.
He also asked, "Why the Arambai Tenggol and the Meitei Leepun have not been declared as outlaws even after they confiscated more than 4000 Government weapons? "We would like to make it firm and clear that there would be no peace and harmony unless we are separated from the valley as it is crystal clear that we could no longer live together with the valley people as we have lost faith on this Government and as well as upon our neighbouring Meitei community," he said.
He further urged the Central Government to initiate legal action against Chief Minister N Biren Singh for allegedly terming the Kukis as "illegal immigrants and foreigners" .
Haokip also urged the Central Government to immediately intervene for separation of the Kukis from the valley "if it really is interested in bringing normalcy and peace between the two communities" .
According to the Committee on Tribals Unity, Sadar Hills, a similar sit-in protest will be organized at various other places in the district.
Meanwhile, an internally displaced person sheltered in a relief camp who also joined the sit-in protest said, "Chief Minister N Biren Singh could have saved us (the inflicted Kuki people) in Imphal had he not turned a blind eye.
He let loose the people wearing black clothes to loot the weapons in Manipur Training Centre Pangei" .
She said Chief Minister N Biren Singh should bear the responsibility for all the violence and killings in the State.
"Many of us, Kukis, under his Constituency voted for him only to be mercilessly killed and rendered homeless," she asserted.
The heartbroken woman averred that the act of the Chief Minister clearly shows that "Manipur belongs only to the Meitei" .
"Now, we have come to understand very clearly that we are not the children of Manipur and therefore, we consider it best to live separately," she added.