Kukis observe Black Day at Kangpokpi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 13 2013 : People from Kuki community in large number gathered today at Brig Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi to observe Kuki Black Day (Sahnit Ni) commemorating the death of over 900 Kukis in the communal clash of the early nineties.

Organised by the Kangpokpi Town Committee with the theme 'Justice and Peace,' the observance programme was marked by mass prayer, lectures from intellectuals and presentation of gospel songs.

Members of the Kuki Inpi Manipur, Kuki Students' Organisation, Kuki Women Union for Human Rights, KSDC, Church leaders, and Kuki chiefs have, amongst others, attended the Kuki Black Day observance programme.

Speakers recalled the killing of 87 Kuki civilians in a single day on September 13, 1993 in Tamenglong district during the peak of the communal tension.

Vice-President of KIM, Haojakhup Lupheng said over 900 Kuki civilians were killed and 300 Kuki villages uprooted while many villagers were rendered homeless.

The day has been observed since 1995 to remember the bloody events and to say prayer for the victims.

However, justice seems eluding till twenty years after the event for the Kukis, Haojakhup lamented.

Instead of taking action against the NSCN-IM, the Govt has started dialogue with them, he said.

He demanded the Government to deliver justice to the victims first before reaching any agreement with the NSCN-IM.

A religious service was also held at a memorial hall at kangpokpi after the programme.

The names of 907 victims were inscribed in the hall.

Ninglun Hanghal reports from New Delhi: Hundreds of Kukis residing in Delhi gathered today afternoon at New Delhi' Jantar Mantar in silent observation of " Kuki Black Day " lighting candles for the departed soul and recollecting the massacre of hundreds of innocent villagers by the NSCN during 1992 till 1995 .

Reiterating that the Union of India must acknowledge the crimes committed against the Kuki people, the day was marked as a symbolic day in the Kuki's stand for justice.

It also asserted that the Union Government cannot and should not go for any solution to any party / groups without considering the Concersn of teh kuki people.

Though the massacre of the Kukis have faded in public memory even as the media has termed the mass killings of the Kukis by the NSCN (IM) , such as "Ethnic Cleansing by Naga Separatist" by the BBC "Genocide" by CNN or :ethnic cleansing by Phannoujam Tarapot, the memory still bore a dark shadow and this day is to reasserted that the Kukis still remember those who gave their life for the Kuki people, a released said.

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