Aftereffect of early 90's communal clash : Thousands rally for justice to terror victims
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04 2014 : The protest rally taken out under the aegis of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) successfully culminated with submission of memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Governor and the Chief Minister at Imphal and through District Magistrates at 7 different places in the hill districts of Manipur.

About 2200 Kukis rallied at THAU Ground and took out a procession in the city.

About 10000 rallied at Churachandpur town while about 4500 participated in the rally at Kangpokpi.

At Saikul about 5000 came out to take part in the meeting and the procession while more than 3000 rallied from Mongneljang to Yaingangpokpi in Ukhrul district.

The rally was also taken out at Moreh and Tengnoupal with the participation of 4500 and 6000 respectively.

KIM general secretary Khaimang Chongloi said that the rally was carried out to protest the Government of India's lackadaisical attitude towards the Kuki people who had endured the genocidal acts of the NSCN-IM during 1990-97 .

The protest rally taken out under the aegis of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM)

About 905 innocent Kukis were butchered including women and children by the NSCN-IM while the Government stood as a mute spectator.

360 villages were turned to ashes and their lands were grabbed.

It resulted in the displacement of more than 1,00,000 Kukis who could not return to their villages till this day, Khaimang said.

The rally was not against any particular community or underground group; rather it is against the Government of India's indifference to the plight of the Kukis.

A total of 61 memoranda had been already submitted to the Government of India but to no avail.

The rally was only to draw the attention of the Government who is holding political talk with the NSCN-IM.

The Kuki Inpi has been demanding immediate settlement of the plight of the victimised Kukis.

It also demanded the Government to first examine the war crimes of the NSCN-IM in a proper Court of law of the country before any agreement is arrived at between the Central Government and the NSCN-IM.

Another demand of the KIM is cessation of any political talk between the Government and NSCN-IM before Kukis are given their long due justice.

Otherwise any agreement between the two will be futile and become the cause of civil unrest in the North East India, Khaimang added.

At Saikul, the rally was participated by around 4000 people and the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Saikul SDO.

Our correspondents add: In Ukhrul district, the rally was held at Mongneljang Kuki village under Litan police station.

The rally held under the aegis of KIM was participated by around 200 people.

The rally was also held at the border town of Moreh.

More than 3000 people took part in the rally jointly organised by Hill Tribal Council Moreh, Kuki Women Union on Human Rights, Kuki Chiefs' Association, Moreh Block and KSO, Moreh Block.

The rallyists carried placards and banners which read, "We demand justice for terror victim", "Govt must take legal action against NSCN-IM", "Let the Government of India attend to terror victims before it negotiates with terrorist," "We don't oppose Naga solution, all we demand is justice", "Justice delayed is justice denied", "Expect no solution without first delivering justice to the innocents", "NSCN-IM committed war crimes", "Killing of women and children is crime against humanity" etc.

After holding a public meeting at Phaitol village under Tousem sub-division of Tamenglong district, the gathering took out a rally.

As the rallyists marched towards Gularthon, Jiri Police OC M Noren informed the protesters they would not be allowed entry in Imphal East district as restrictions are in place under Section 144 of CrPC.

Nonetheless, they submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Ministr of India through the ADC Jiribam.

As a part of mass protest rally organised by Kuku Inpi Manipur (KIM), a protest rally was held at Tengnoupal Sub-Divisional Headquarters in Chandel District today.

Large numbers of villagers from Machi and Tengnoupal Sub - Division took out the mass rally after a Public Meeting presided by Houjakhup Lupho, vice-president of Kuki Inpi Manipur.

The rally which was led by Kuki Chief's Association of Machi and Tengnoupal Block proceeded to the Office of the Sub-Divisional Officer and submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister through Md.Jahuruddin Khan, Sub-Divisional Collector, Tengnoupal.

KANGPOKPI: Thousand of Kuki's from Kangpokpi and its adjoining areas too joined the rally at Kangpokpi to show their solidarity in demand for justice long denied to them.

More than 6000 Kuki people congregate at Brig.

Thomas ground, Kangpokpi today at around 11 am before marching towards the Addl.

DC Complex to submit a memoranda though the United Naga Council (UNC) has expressed serious concern over KIM's proposed rally.

Addressing the congregation at Brig.

Thomas Ground S.Chongloi, Secretary Kuki Movement for Human rights, a delegate of Kuki Inpi Manipur at Kangpokpi rally today point out that the United Naga Council on October 22, 1992 served a 'Quit Notice' duly signed by the then UNC president R.K.Thekho and Secretary Francis to the Kuki people settled in Manipur to flash out the Kukis from their land before adding that the same 'Quit Notice' copy was openly given to the State Government through DC, SDO and the Central Government while it was also published in all leading newspaper of the state.

The Quit Notice warned the Kuki people to face the ugliest form of torment if they (the Kuki) failed to desert their land within a stipulated time.

While pointing out that the Governments glaring apathy and negligence towards the open warning of the Nagas led to slaughter of 905 innocent Kukis, including children, men, women and the old aged; uprooted 360 villages to snatch way their lands; and displaced 1,00,000 people who are still unable to go back to their own villages by the NSCN-IM the next year in 1993 .

Chongloi continued that the Government of India remains a mute spectator and the Meitei also disagreed with the terror unleashed by the NSCN-IM.

Today rally is the continuation of the Imphal rally with the same demand after 18 years which is yet to deliver.

The Kuki traditional policy is non communal, peacefull co-existence and justice for all said Dr Chongloi.

KIM movement is for justice, peace and harmony.

The congregate submitt a memorandum of protest rally to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A copy of the same memorandum has also been addressed to Ban Ki Mon Secretary General UN, Chief Secretariat, UNPFII, New York, UN HQs, National Human Right Commission and to all the Chief Minister of North Eastern States.

CHURACHANDPUR: Thousands of Kukis today joined the parallel rallies organized by KIM in demanding that the government first address the alleged criminal and genocidal acts of NSCN-IM on innocent Kukis in a court of law and settle the Kukis' plight before arriving at any possible agreement with the Naga insurgent group.

The rally in Churachandpur district was organized by Kuki Inpi Churachandpur and saw a massive turn-out stalling traffic for ho'rs as the rally route passes through the busiest routes of the main commercial town.

They bagan at Lamka public ground and concluded at the Deputy Commissioner's office where KIC has submitted a memorandum address to the Prime Minister, and its copy marked to the UN's General Secretary, UNPFII Chief, Chief Minister of NE states, and the NHRC.

The KIC memo calls on the Prime Minister to understand the gravity of the situation of the Kuki people and the plight they are subjected to, and seek prior settlement of the terror acts of NSCN-IM on Kuki during 1990-97 in a proper court of law and to fully address the plight of the Kuki people before any possible agreement is reached with the NSCN-IM.

The Kukis has alleged that the Naga insurgent group had murdered 905 innocent Kukis, including children, pregnant women, invalids and old aged during the period and uprooted 360 Kuki villages, seizing their lands and displaced 1,00,000 Kukis rendering them homeless to this day.

It revealed that the Government of India despite their repeated appeals to five former Prime Minister while they are in office and over sixty other memoranda, for the settlement of their plight, the government still maintains a glaring apathy and negligence towards the Kuki people.

'The crime of NSCN-IM should be examined in a proper court of law in the country and the perpetrators of the crime must be punished to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Lest whatever agreement proposed with the NSCN-IM will become the cause of violence and unrest, as solution to the Naga problem will be the cause of social and political unrest for the Kukis,' added the memo.