UPF-KNO reiterate 'Separate State' demand
Source: The Sangai Express

Sadar Hills, September 15 2016: The two conglomerates of the Kuki UGs, United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO), today reaffirmed its political demand for a 'Separate State' within the Constitution of India.

A joint press communiqu� of UPF and KNO signed by ST Thangboi, chairman, UPF and PS Haokip, president, KNO said that the UPF and KNO have reiterated the political demand for a 'Separate State' as per the resolution taken at the joint meeting held on September 22 last year at Grace Bible College, New Lamka.

It also said that besides UPF and KNO, no third party should raise any alternative political demand and added that UPF and KNO would christen the State at the appropriate time.

It further stated that the UPF and KNO would consult all stake-holders, viz.

Inpis, councils, chief associations, tribe leaders, etc in the process of reaching a final political settlement with the Government of India.

It may be recalled that in a historic moment for the Kuki community, the Government of India held the first round of 'Political Dialogue' with the United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO), at Ashoka Hotel in the National capital on June 15, 2016 .

The first round of political dialogue with the UPF and KNO was chaired by Satyendra Garg, IPS, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs in the presence of Brig Prasad, Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI), Col Amit Tewatia, DGMI, Lt Col Pankaj Sharma, Director General Military Operations (DGMO).

While Dr J Suresh Babu, Addl Chief Secretary (Home), Govt of Manipur and P Doungel, ADGP (Intelligence) represented the State Government, Aaron Kipgen led six delegates representing the UPF and another six delegates led by Seilen Haokip representing the KNO.

During the first round of political dialogue, UPF and KNO submitted a joint representation on the outline of the political demand for Statehood wherein both the UPF and KNO proposed settlement of Kuki people's political demand within the framework of the Indian Constitution and in accordance with Article 3 in the Constitution of India, Statehood for the Kuki people, comprising lands in the hills of Manipur for which the Chieftains possess legal land title (Patta) as the basis for the political dialogue in its lengthy three paged joint representation while adding that the full text of the political demand will be furnished as and when progress of the talks determine.

It also included a non-exhaustive list providing details of discrimination of the Kukis which included denial of Sadar Hills, denial of tribal protection under the Sixth Schedule, the Eight Schedule, disparity in development, State Government ignoring the Hill Area Committee with regard to the Inner Line Permit related three Bills, denial of proportionate representation and land alienation and annexation of tribal land.

The KNO and UPF also sought Statehood primarily to ensure political stability in their land and set in place adequate security measures followed by the need to do away with the alleged decade of inequitable development, gross discrimination and exploitation of their people and land by the majoritarian Meitei led Manipur Government, said the joint statement.

It also stated that the States in Indian Union were created along ethno-lingual lines, e.g.Tamil Nadu for Tamils, Nagaland for Nagas, Mizoram for Mizos.

Therefore, it is only fair that a separate State be accorded for the Kukis.

While illustrating the Kuki lands in Manipur, it said that prior to British incursion, Kuki chieftains held sway over the entire hills of Manipur.

In the present day, the land of the Kukis for which the chieftains possess legal land titles (Patta) include areas covered by ADC Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Chandel and Kuki villages in Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts.

It further said that the Kukis have been a deprived lot in the sixty-seven years since the merger of Manipur to the India Union.

Self-determination, it said, is defined in the context of the Indian Union and refers to 'Statehood' while adding that KNO and UPF, a loyal citizens of the country, seek Statehood within the provisions of Article 3 in the Constitution of India.

To achieve this objective the Kuki armed movement was formed in 1987 .

The joint representation stated that the Kuki people are one of the three main indigenous peoples of Manipur while Nagas and Meiteis are the other two.

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