8th R-day of UMLA celebrated
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, October 17 2013: "Due to Naga politics, the Kukis have been made to divide but the day will come when Kukis will be united again" .

Home secretary of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) T Anton Kuki said this while addressing the 8th Raising Day Celebration of United Minorities Liberation Army (UMLA) today at Hermon Camp in Chandel district today.

UMLA is one of the militant outfits under the umbrella organisation of KNO.

The celebration was marked was marked by presentation of various cultural items and songs by many artists.

Speaking on the occasion, T Anton Kuki said that several old Kuki tribes in Chandel and Churachandpur districts have been made to identify themselves as Nagas due to Naga politics.

8th R-day of UMLA celebrated

"Though it will be difficult at the moment to bring those tribes under the Kuki fold, it is necessary that these old Kuki tribes are re-united with the Kukis," said T Anton Kuki.

The KNO home secretary then said the umbrella organisation KNO was established 26 years ago in Burma and today there are 17 outfits under the KNO.

He said UMLA is one of the outfits under KNO fighting to protect the lands of the Kuki forefathers.

Recalling the heroic activities of the Kuki people, Anton said the British had a hard time fighting the Kukis.

He claimed that the mighty British people took more time to fight the Kukis than any other communities in the region.

He also claimed that the British, knowing the bravery of the tribe, had recruited 7000 Kukis as soldiers.

Anton also said Manipur Maharaja Chandrakirti and others were saved by the Kukis in war time.

Meanwhile, UMLA said they will never compromise on the disintegration of "our society, the long cherished dreams are to be self dependence." It also said it will strive to maintain better relationship with other tribes or communities in Manipur.

On the other hand, in his speech, KNO president PS Haokip said UMLA and Pakan Re-Unification Army are the two valiant torchbearers to cause an awakening for re-unification within the Kuki fraternity, showing the way to some of "our misguided brethren that we will stand to gain to be in arms with our own rather than be utilised as stooges by NSCN (IM) for their own economic and political advantage" .

PS Haokip did not present physically in today's celebration.

But his speech was read out by UMLA leader Thangboi Haokip during the celebration.