Statement of facts in the context of NSCN(IM) and India Govt talks
- KSO (Kuki Students' Organization) -

13 June 2010

In view of the various statements issued by the NSCN (I-M) in regard to settlement of their issue with the Govt. of India, and their efforts to seek opinion of neighbouring tribes/ communities, the KSO Manipur would like to express the following statements of fact:

1. Till 1891 the polity of Manipur was confined to the polity of the various ethnic groups living in Manipur and its neighourhood. As per historical records the Kukis were much in control of the hill areas of Manipur and the Kuki language was the prominent lingua franca as one crossed the central valley of Manipur into the hills.

2. The' foreign' attempt to take over governance of Manipur succeeded in 1891 when the princely state came under the control of the British after a brief struggle lasting a few months. Sustained armed struggle for a period of three years (1917-1919) against British' alien' governance of Manipur was, however, waged by the Kukis convering the length and breadth of the hill areas of the present so-called North East India and North West of Burma (now Myanmar) whereby clearly indicating that governance of the hill areas of the present so-called North East India and North West of Burma (now Myanmar) had been largely in the hands of the Kukis. The attempt by the Kukis to regain control of the hill areas of the present so-called North East India and North West of Burma (now Myanmar) continued till the World War II when the Kukis joined the INA in large numbers. The Kuki Inn at Imphal is a commemoration of this struggle.

3. With the dawn of democratic polity in India in 1947 and the constitutional assurances of brotherhood, equality and other fundamental rights, the feeling by the Kukis of being governed by 'alien' power had largely disappeared at least for a period of time. However, after the sudden aggression of NSCN (1M) in early 1990s on"the Kukis, the faith of the Kukis on the' democratic' polity of India has been shaken. The reasons are-
(1) How such a prolonged armed struggle (lasting more than 5 years) between two communities with negligible population was allowed in the largest democracy and with one of the most powerful armed forces?

(2) How the aggression was interpreted by the Govt. as an 'ethnic clash' when in contrast to the well armed NSCN (I-M) which purporterdly held secessionist ambitions the Kukis were totally unarmed and were struggling to protect themselves with whatever they could.

(3) Why the Government of India was quick to forget that 900 Kukis had lost their lives in this struggle and 360 v,illages uprooted, without even an explanation or attempt for enforcement of rule of law by which the guilty must be identified and punished?

(4) After interpreting the aggresion as an ethnic conflict why has only one side been considered for dialogue, interaction, examination of claims and accommodation?

The Kukis have all good wishes for our Naga co-inhabitants in Manipur to live together in harmony and peace. The Government of India is fully aware of the history of northeastern India and how the communities here co-existed. The Kukis do not demand that we be accorded extra-special treatment or rewarded with solutions that would alienate our co-inhabitants.

The Government of both India nd Burma (claiming ruling in Kuki Country) must not continue to deny justice to the Kukis. There must be transparency, equitability and justification in the Govt's dealings with all communities. We want our problem to be correctly examined and solved without delay so as to prove untrue that the Kukis are under' alien' overnance.

Yours faithfully
1. Lunkhosei Touthang
Secretary General
Kuki Students' Organization
General Headquarters

2. Kamkhohao Khongsai
President
Kuki Students' Organization
General Headquarters