Lamka, July 11, 2013: “The historical facts and legitimate political rights and aspirations of the Kukis for appropriate self-determination under the Constitution of India in the ancestral lands, which our forefathers protected from the colonialists, will continue until our objective is achieved,” said S George Guite, Secretary, Information and publicity, Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC).
In a press statement, KSDC stated that the Kuki people never encroach nor demand any lands or territories of others, but want to the artificial political boundaries to be redrawn, which was earlier appended to Manipur without the consent of the landowners - Kukis.
It further added the Kukis neither signed an agreement with Government of India nor the Government of Manipur for the integration or disintegration of Manipur. The Kuki State Demand Committee has been pressurizing the Govt of India and Govt of Manipur to hold dialogue with the Kuki UGs, as Suspension of Operations was signed in 2008 to raise the vexed Kuki political issue.
“If dialogue was not the purpose, why did the Government sign SoO with Kuki UGS? Or, is it the planned agenda of the Government to ‘give up’ on the hard-earned peace achieved in Kuki areas following signing the peace pact (SoO) in 2008?” KSDC asked. “The KSDC and the Kuki people will continue our non-violent struggle for political self-determination under the Indian Constitution, which is our democratic right”.
The KSDC appreciates the mass support during the 36-hr General Strike and 48-hr Economic Blockade in all the Kuki dominated areas of present-day Manipur and along all the National Highways which passes through Kuki areas viz. Imphal-Kangpokpi-Dimapur-
The Kukis have no future in the present-day state Manipur. There is no security of life and liberty, e.g. the Kuki genocide of the 1990s perpetrated by NSCN (IM), planting landmines in Kuki areas by Valley based Insurgent Groups, which killed and maimed many innocent Kuki villagers, the mass raping of Kuki women in the 2000s at Parbung, lack of development, and deprivation of the Kukis’ political rights by the state Government in the affairs of local governance, i.e. the village by enacting different Acts through the state administrative mechanism, which is against the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to the tribals (Kukis).The Kukis want full protection by the Constitution of India in the form of Kuki State; nothing more, nothing less!
The statement of some politicians of the state intimidating the people’s movement will never cow down the aspirations of the Kukis for self-determination. Rather, such taunts will only stoke the passions of the people who know their legitimate rights. The sacrificial minds of the people, who came out on the streets in support of the general strike is testimony of commitment to the cause of self-determination. Rather than engage in mudslinging, it is a bounden duty of a responsible Government to expedite the process for political dialogue with SoO groups and address the Kuki political issue.
KSDC further says Suspension of Operations was signed to create an atmosphere conducive for political dialogue. “It is high time on the part of the Government to translate their written assurance to the Kuki people and begin dialogue. It will resume blockade if government remains insincere”, KSDC warned.
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