UKLF refutes KNLF's claim, clarifies
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2014:
Reacting to certain press statements issued by KNLF during the past few days which alleged that the UKLF forced civil society leaders to put their signatures on a drafted memorandum, the UKLF has clarified that it never forced anybody to put their signatures on any drafted memorandum so far.
The civil society opposed the setting up of KNLF camp in the area on their own since the beginning owing to the fact that installing two unfriendly armed groups in the same area would certainly disturb the hard-earned peaceful atmosphere of the area.
The opposition is not new but it started right from the day the proposal was made last year, said a press release issued by UKLF Joint Secretary MP Haokip.
The UKLF on its own objected to the KNLF camp at Semol from the beginning not for something else but for the sake of peace and tranquility in the area and thereby always supported the public.
On the other hand, the press note of Stephen Kuki of KNA/KNO published in a daily paper on June 7 saying 'the KNLF was a faction of UKLF' was baseless and fabricated story intended to cast the good image of UKLF in bad light.
Not a single member of KNLF had been in UKLF but it was formed and nurtured by KNA/KNO purposely to disturb the peace of the area so that their policy of divide and rule can be effectively implemented in Kuki society.
The KNA/KNO must stop its programme of creating more and more armed groups and nurturing the newly formed groups if they are genuinely interested in the political future of the Kukis.
Creating more and more outfits is not going to the solve the Kuki political problem but will certainly create more.
Nobody is going to get anything good from creating more and more armed groups.
Further, the KNLF coerced the chiefs of Simol and KhengjoiVillages,who are in their custody,to make a statement before the media persons in support of KNLF camp at Simol.
The Kuki people of Chandel district objected the planting of new armed groups in the area from the beginning so as to maintain social peace and harmony and it should be supported by all.
But the KNA/KNO started threatening the public leaders.
If the KNA/KNO is really interested in peace and welfare of the people they should not poke their nose into it at this juncture.
They should leave the matter to the public.
Instead of resorting to such senseless statement,KNA/KNO should learn to respect people's sentiment and their aspiration for peaceful existence.
Serving warning notes to public leaders is not going to help but will only bring more animosity.
If anything happens to any public leader, the UKLF will not sit idle.
"We will not allow any of the public leaders in our operation area to be threatened or harassed by anybody within or without", it asserted.
The public and the UKLF appreciated the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, in paying heed to the voice of the public and ordered to stop the ongoing construction of the said KNLF camp at Semol village through written missive.
Now the general public of Chandel district are confused over the credibility of MHA as KNLF and para-military defied its order to revoke construction of KNLF Camp at Simol Village.
If the real intention of the Government is peace and conflict resolution, it should pay heed to the voice of the public and not to be misled by vested interest, it concluded.