Who gave birth to the KNF/KNA ?

Birendra Laishram *

Five years back, I recollect an article written by Dr Nelson Vashum, for The Sangai Express. The writer is Chairman of CHSRC, Hamleikhong Hungpung, Ukhrul District. This article was webcast on September 30, 2018. Dr Nelson highlighted the Government of India's role in supporting Kuki militants in Manipur.

Quote, “Most importantly at the same time (March 1980), a memorandum was submitted to Mr Buta Singh, Home Minister of India. In the memorandum, the KNA vowed that Kuki community would subdue the Naga independence movement in 5 (five) years which the Government of India failed to achieve in 40 years. In the same memorandum arms and money were sought for urgently. The memorandum was signed by late Major P Kipgen as general secretary and president, KNA.”

3. A Colonel of Indian Army whose wife was my patient invited my family to come to Leimakhong Army Camp. One Sunday in July 1990, I went with my family to Leimakhong Army camp and spent some leisure hours with the Colonel’s family.

Taking me aside for a private talk, the Colonel revealed to me that under the initiative of Defence Ministry, a batch of 250 Kuki youngsters were being trained for self-defence and the band was named as Kuki Defence Force (KDF). The purpose was not informed to the trainers, but on their own they elicited information under liquor. Some bluntly came out with intent to fight with NSCN (IM) and Tangkhuls.

4. In 1989/90, Mr SC Jamir, Chief Minister of Nagaland sent a special team to Manipur to incite the Kukis and Meiteis to precipitate communal clash against the Tangkhuls. The secret team started working in Manipur from the month of February the same year and completed by September 1989/90. Some officials of RAW and secret agents of Mr SC Jamir under the command of Col. Joy Singh celebrated the completion of the mission in the Inspection Bungalow, Bishnupur.”

Mr Nehlun Haokip was the Commander-in-chief of KDF. He went and met the then Army Chief of India, Gen Rodrigues in Delhi and in his poorly framed press release spilt the beans of the Government of India helping the KDF to fight the Nagas. Arms and moneys were in the pipeline. It was sometime in July/August 1992. It was a blunder mistake for Nehlun Haokip. He was later executed within a few months of his revelation.

“Now putting all these information, even a simpleton can frame a simple and straight inference that the Naga-Kuki conflict was maliciously planned and precipitated by the Kukis under the malevolent nudging of the Government of India. The Government of Nagaland and Manipur jointly abetted to execute the crimes.”

Unquote, recently I came across another narrative in the Rongmei Encyclopedia. world.comentitled “Massacre of innocent Naga villagers: Colonial Account, it ran: Sir James Johnstone noted that the Kukis were a constant source of trouble for the Nagas, while BC Chakravorti recounted that during the Kuki rebellion from 1917 to 1919, the Kabui Nagas suffered greatly at their hands.

“In February 1880, the Kukis attacked the Tangkhul Naga village of Chingsow (Chingsui), killing 45 people. This assault defied British orders; the Kukis demanded that the Chingsow Nagas submit to their authority, which the villagers refused (Johnston J., My Experiences in Manipur and the Naga Hills, p. 185). (Ref. Rongmei Encyclodedia)

“Sir Robert Reid’s accounts detail the Kuki mercenaries' brutal actions : Approximately 176 inhabitants of Goitang village were massacred, 76 houses were burned, over 250 Kharam villagers were killed and their homes destroyed, 70 Makoi villagers were slaughtered with their properties looted, and 10 Dailong villagers were murdered. The entire Mongja- rong Khunou village was razed, resulting in about 39 more deaths (Facts about the Naga-Kuki Conflict, p. 5-6).”

BC Allen reported another devastating attack on the Swemi (Chingjaroi) Naga village in December 1892, where over 600 villagers were killed. This pattern continued with numerous accounts of violence.

A Hindustan Times article from July 22, 1993, revealed that the KNA sought Rs 7 crore in financial support from the Indian Government through RAW and the Indian Army to wage a decisive war against the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Muivah).

In an October 1993 letter to the Editor of Eastern Panorama, it was disclosed that the KNF/KNA’s formation was orchestrated by C Doungel and Holkhomang Haokip, with the Kukis allegedly receiving substantial funds to support the armed forces in their efforts to eliminate the Nagas. Doun-gel, in a campaign speech, vowed revenge against the Nagas, contributing Rs 25 lakh to the KNF/KNA's formation (Memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, September 1, 1992).

Joint operations between the 15th Assam Regiment and KNF/KNA led to the destruction of numerous Naga villages in 1993, including a raid on Kambang Khullen Maring Naga village that resulted in 25 homes being burned. Further attacks followed, with Leibu village besieged and 64 houses torched, and more destruction in Leipham village.

NAGA-KUKI CONFLICT (1990-1997): A CASE OF UNPROVOKED KUKI AGGRESSION

Following its establishment, the KNF/KNA ex- ploited Kuki sentiments tied to historical grievances, using the Refugee Relief Fund issue from 1966 to justify aggressions against the Nagas. On February 9, 1990, they warned Chatric Village Authority to evacuate immediately.

On May 4, 1992, the Kuki Students’ Organisation demanded that Nagas leave Moreh town within 24 hours, causing mass displacement. On September 12, 1992, the Kuki War Declaration Committee declared war against the Nagas unprovoked (Thing-lang Post, Sept 22, 1992).

The violence that ensued resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Nagas, the destruction of thousands of homes, the uprooting of numerous villages, and widespread atrocities against women and innocent religious leaders. According to a UNC report (1992-1997), around 470 Kukis and 207 Nagas were killed, with thousands of homes burned.

FORMATION OF NAGA-LIM-GUARD (NLG)

The Nagas, initially passive, sought peace through numerous appeals to the State Government for intervention. On June 16, 1992, a delegation from ANSAM attempted to negotiate peace with KSO and CDSU in Churachandpur, but this effort proved futile as attacks persisted.

In a troubling display of complicity, the Government of RK Dorendra Singh ordered the confiscation of arms from Ukhrul District in August 1993 and praised Kuki aggression by honoring Lt Sh Onkholet Haokip, a KNF/KNA militant, with a reward of Rs 20,000.

In response, the Naga-Lim-Guard (NLG) was established in May 1993 under the United Naga Council (UNC) to defend the Nagas against State sponsored Kuki aggressors.

Conclusion

Nagas view “Sahnit Ni” as a tactical offensive by the Kukis, aimed at distorting their collective memories and portraying them as responsible for past misfortunes. The conspiracy theory behind the complaint to the NHRC against the NSCN (IM) seems credible, as confidential sources suggest that an Indian State agency is attempting to undermine the Naga Nationalist movement by targeting Th Muivah.

As the Nagas strive for peaceful coexistence with the Kukis, the inflammatory “Sahnit-Ni” initiative threatens this harmony. Unless the “Kuki National identity” is disentangled from its colonial past, history may repeat itself. Only then will India and its puppet State, Manipur, recognize the consequences of their actions, akin to the seeds sown by the British.”

Both narratives remain undisputed and depict the Government of India and its armed forces as inactive during the clashes, fueling doubts among the people of Manipur that the current conflict between the Meitei and Kuki is orchestrated by the Government of India, the world's largest democracy. A clarification from the honourable Prime Minister, the Home Minister of India, and the Chief Minister of Manipur is requested in the public interest.