ANTA refutes KNO's claim on Anal
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Chandel, September 20 2013 :
"The Anals or Pakans including all Naga tribes of Chandel District are Nagas by blood having their own historical uniqueness, cultures and identities different from that of Kuki Tribe, Wng Victor Kohring, President of Anal Naga Tangpi (ANTA), one of the apex bodies of Naga Tribes in Chandel District, has stated.
In a statement, the ANTA President said that the statement issued by Kuki National Organization (KNO) President Ps Haokip on September 17, wherein the latter referred to the Naga tribes of Chandel as Old Kukis was 'confusing' and 'misleading' .
Refuting the claim of KNO, the ANTA President asserted that the Nagas in Chandel District have a common true story of how they migrated in to this land now called Chandel district.
Every individual or community must understand, respect and honour the history, custom, culture, identity and the land that belongs to another group of individuals or community, the ANTA President said, while urging the tribal communities to refrain from all forms of violence by advocating the sacrament of reconciliation and harness to live in peaceful co-existence on the basis of Christian virtue of forgive and forget.
Referring to the book, 'The North East Frontier of India' written by Sir Alexander, Wng Victor Kohring said that the Anals and other Naga tribes were never old or New Kukis even in the Kuki country.
According to Page No 83 and 146, old Kukis (Khelema clan, Ramthai clan, Bete clan and lamkhow clan)were reported in 1853 whereas new Kukis of 1851- 52 included Changsun tribe, Thado tribe and Shingshon tribe.
L Joychandra Singh in his book, 'The Lost Kingdom" Royal Chronicles of Manipur page 5 para 1 stated that in the year 1479, King Chalomba conquered the Naga villages namely Anan/Anal, Moirang, Thingkhong ang Angthi but died in 1484.In the year 1600 (English era) during the month of August King Paikhomba attacked and conquered the villages of Anan/Anal and captured 30 men as captives, Wng Kohring quoted and said that these historical records of ancient Manipur Kings proved that the Anals were original Nagas for thousand years before Kuki brethren came to Manipur in 1840 .
Wng Victor Kohring further pointed out that Captain Rajendra Singh in his book 'The Anals of Manipur" page No.18 and 19 stated that 'in the wake of of Naga insurgency the underground movement gathered momentum in the Anal areas in 1961.10th BN of Naga Army operated in the present Chandel district while the 11th and 12th BN of Naga Army operated in the Tangkhul and Mao areas respectively.
Dwelling on the difference of customs, culture between the Naga tribes of Chandel and the Kukis, Wng Victor Kohring pointed out that Anals as a Naga tribe have particular graveyards with erection of Patha (memorial stone) while Kukis practiced burial without erection of Patha (memorial stone) .
Anals or Pakans including other Naga tribes of Chandel district are original Nagas and not fabricated one as stated by Ps Haokip in his statement, the ANTA President added.