Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 19 2010:
The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) in a press release signed by Lenin H Kuki, Secretary, Publicity and Information, expressed deep concern at apathy towards the plight of Kuki people, discriminatory policies and step-motherly treatment of successive state government.
On the eve of the 39th statehood anniversary of Manipur, the KNO reiterated its standpoint that in the present socio-political context of Manipur, Kuki peoples' political aspirations and constitutional rights could be realized only with the creation of an autonomous state under the relevant articles and provisions of the Indian Statute book.
The release further stated that in mainland India linguistic and economic factors play a significant role and considerations for creating new states.
But in the Northeast region there is a strong sense of enthno-centric politics, which New Delhi should not ignore, asserted KNO.
Taking note of other enthno centric demands, the release asked if the Gorkhas of Darjeeling Hills, the Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas of Assam and Garos of Meghalaya voice their political rights and demand in the form of separate statehood, why not the Kukis of Manipur? .
Questioning the sincerity of the government in redressing the grievances of the ethnic minorities of the region, the KNO charged that ill-conceived notions and wrong policies framed and initiated by New Delhi upon the people of NE Region inevitably encouraged and sustained the armed movements.
Blaming the Government of failing dismally to listen to the demand for separate statehood spearheaded by the Kuki National Assembly during the 60s and 70s through democratic channels and non-violent means, the release stressed the need to understand the historicity of 'Zalen-gam' and to view it "with a rational outlook to dispel unnecessary misconceptions which could possibly arises regarding the Kuki people and their forefathers' land".
The KNO recollected the Great Kuki Invasion of 1860s and the Kuki Rising of 1917-1919 "in defense of their forefathers' land and their freedom".
And that in WW-II, in a bid to regain their freedom from the British the Kukis sided with the Axis Power to which the Indian National Army was apart.
Lamenting the division within the Kuki society, facing the fear of "extinction their culture and identity without a "lebensraum" to call their own, the KNO hoped for an early peaceful political dialogue with the Central government which is functioning under a democratic polity.