Kukis oppose KAAC creation of tiger reserve
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Diphu, September 03 2012:
More Kuki organisations of karbi Anglong has opposed Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council's (KAAC) move for creation of a sanctuary for conservation of tiger; encompassing maximum reserve forests and declared forest areas of Singhasan hill track, lactated in central part of the district spread in Diphu and Bokajan subdivision of Karbi Anglong autonomous hill district.
Tongthang Touthang president and L.Guite, vice president, Kuki National Assembly (KNA), Assam has stated that, in its organizational meeting held at Manja, 16 kilometre from Diphu, KNA has decided to "condemn KAAC for intentionally projecting to de-root the indigenous tribal inhabitants from their ancestral land by conserving the place into tiger reserve and have resolved to fight tooth and nail" .
Talking exclusively with this correspondent, Tongthang Touthang said "the proposed reserve covers 80% land of Kuki dominated area where traditional cultivation is done by native Kuki people since time immemorial.
KAAC action will directly affect 95% of Kuki population.
If the proposed tiger reserve is created by the authority, 60 to 70 % school going children and the farmers of Kuki community will be affected and that KAAC had not consulted Kuki inhabitants before taking the step" .
KNA further stated that it would not allow even an inch of land of Lunglit, Singhason, Khonbamon and Patradisa region as these areas were the ancestral land of the Kukis.