KNO celebrates raising day, trumps Kuki Nation
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2012: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) today celebrated its 25th raising day at Churachandpur district's Pu K Hangshing Memorial Football Ground in Lhungtin, which is also the Gamnom designated camp of the outfit.

On the occasion of the organisation's silver jubilee celebration, armed cadres offered gun salute to their departed comrades followed by the event participants observing two minutes silence in honour of the departed souls.

After the hoisting of KNO flag by chairman of RGOK/KRA M David Khongsai, KNO's central working committee member LM Dino zou read out a message of the KNO president Helen Kipgen before the gathering.

The anniversary was also celebrated by the 1st Bn Kuki Army of the Organisation at its Hermon Camp in Chandel district, informed our Moreh correspondent adding that the event was held with Maring Uparup Assembly president Th Angdun and Kuki Inpi Manipur president Thangsei Haokip as the chief guest and functional president respectively.

Representatives of Hill Tribe Council Moreh, Chandel unit KSO and various tribes settled in Chandel district were also present at the occasion.

In his message (read by Dino Zou), the KNO president Helen Kipgen conveyed warm greetings to all members of the KNO conglomerates and general public specifically acknowledged moral support of the Kuki people in the Organisation's endeavour to strengthen the Kuki Nation through a viable political settlement with the Governments of India and Manipur.

A function underway to celebrate the raising day of KNO

Conveying that KNO was formed at Molnoi Kuki village near the Indo-Burma border to restore Zale'n-gam, the outfit's chief recounting contributions of all those who sacrificed their lives for the cause reminded that only through sustained cooperation of one and all the goal could be attained.

Soliciting contribution of every Kuki clan and sub-clans towards the goal of Zale'n-gam, Helen also noted effort of Pu SNG Haokip in 1992 for strengthening KNO's Kuki nationalism and ideology at a session in Churachandpur which the outfit sustained by welcoming 'our Old Kuki' brethren in Chandel (1994), who left NSCN (IM) to return to their roots.

"Similarly the same people who were with NSCN (K) have also been enlightened and have started to return to the Kuki fold," said the president in his message with the assertion that 'United Minorities Liberation Army and Pakan Revolutionary Army are living examples' .

Expressing that The Kuki Nation was published in 1998 to communicate his vision for the Kuki people as it was not possible to deliver it to each and every individual in person, Helen said every 'tribe' of Zale'n-gam is listed in the publication and detailed the 'listed tribes' under 'Any Kuki Tribes' in Manipur as Aimol, Anal, Baite, Chiru, Changsen, Chongloi, Chothe, Doungel, Gangte, Guite, Haokip, Hangshing, Hmar, Kipgen, Kharan, Khoibu, Koirao, Koireng, Kom, Lamkang, Lhungdim, Lunkim, Lupheng, Lupho, Mate, Maring, Mayon, Misao, Mongmi, Monsang, Ngon, Paite, Purum Ralte, Simte, Sukte, Tarao, Thadou, Thangal, Thangeo, Tuboi, Vaiphei and Zou.

Conceding that efforts for write-ups on each of the tribes is yet to materialise due to the need for more inputs, he urged the tribe concerned for relevant information to include in the next edition of the publication, which Helen said reflects 'our unified stand to preserve our territorial integrity against the British colonialists in the Kuki Rising 1917-1919 .

stating that 'By God's grace today the Kuki people are represented in KNO', he recounted that in August 2005, KNO and the Indian army signed Suspension of Operation, when KNF (MC) and KNF (Z) joined the KNO umbrella.

By 2006 the armed wing of KNO grew to include Kuki National Army, Kuki National Front (Military Council), Kuki National Front (Zogam), United Socialist Revolutionary Army, Zou Defence Volunteer, Zomi Revolutionary Front, United Komrem Revolutionary Army, Hmar National Army and Kuki Liberation Army, further elaborated the KNO chief .

In a ground-breaking development the United Old Kuki Liberation Army (Khoipu and Maring) and Pakan Revolutionary Army joined KNO, respectively in December 2007 and 2008, which was followed by the joining of Kuki Revolutionary Army, Kuki National Front (S) and another Kuki Liberation Army led by Paomang Khongsai and L Timothy Kuki to the KNO conglomerate, raising the umbrella organisation's strength to a formidable 15, he maintained.

Following these developments, Kuki Unity Celebration was held on 30 October 2010 at Molnom Community Hall.

The media team covered the entire programme, which was telecast and widely published in the newspapers.

The Manipur Express interviewed me during which crucial aims and objectives of the organisations were discussed, Helen informed adding that the KNO website, kukination.net (link zale'n-gam.org) was launched in 2006 .

In 1999, Kuki was reportedly represented for the first time in the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations at Geneva, Switzerland while on August 9, 2006 KNO and its armed wing represented by Dr Seilen Haokip and Helen Haokip signed the Deed of Commitment to Ban Anti-Personnel Landmines with Geneva Call at Geneva.

KNO is said to be the 3lst organization to sign the important agreement from amongst other organisation all over the world.

KNO memoranda were also submitted to UN General Secretary and the lndia and Burma Missions at Geneva.

After 20 years of persistent and committed efforts, the government of India began the process of official meetings with KNO on February 4, 2008 at New Delhi wherein a five-member KNO delegation led by vice president Lalminthang Vaiphei attended.

The Kuki Nation, revised with additional text, was published in 2008 with numerous copies distributed the world over, he said and highlighted various initiatives by the KNO to not only expedite the peace process but also reconciliatory moves amongst the Kuki people.