Imphal, March 25 2009: Clarifying the allegation that the KNF has violated the ground rules of the SoO by giving protection to a non-signatory armed group, the Kuki National Front (KNF), one of the signatory groups of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO), claimed that the party has maintained the ground rules of the pact and by no means violated it.

Speaking to reporters today at the KNF Headquarters, the party Central PRO, Ronel Kuki said that the party had played a mediator role during the armed clash between the KRA and KRF in May/June 2008.As a result, he said, the party has mediated to usher in peace and in its efforts to prevent more bloodshed among the blood brethren it has also sheltered the KRF cadres.

Ronel said that KNF had expelled the KRF for kidnapping the Secretary of Adimjati Siksha Ashram back in December 2008.He said that since then, the party has maintained no relations with the KRF in anyway.

If the Manipur government or the Security forces have any suspicion and doubt with the KNF they can come and verify anytime, Ronel said while adding that the party has no problem with the spot verification of the government's monitoring group.

Ronel said that in an unfortunate incident an encounter took place between the KNF and the 36 AR at Haijang Village near Kangpokpi when the AR troops opened fire toward the KNF cadres who went there for some assignment.

He said that the lives of a cadre of the KNF and an Officer of the 36 AR were lost in the encounter.

Ronel said that the present President of the outfit, ST Thangboi took charge after the former party president lost his live in an encounter with security forces at Motbung village on October 12, 1993.Since its inception, no article of the party has been amended.

He also informed all concerns not to prefix the KNF with KNF (P) while also clarifying that there is no KNF (P).

The FCS in-charge of the party, Solomon said that the KNF was formed in 1984 to demand a Kuki state after a long wait for the response from the Government for 27 years since the submission of a memorandum to the then Prime Minister of India for the creation of Kuki homeland by the then Kuki National Assembly president Thangkhopao Singson.

The briefing function was also attended by the KNF Central Headquarters commander, Lala, and its medical director, C Chochon.

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