Consequent to the declaration of war against the Kukis by the Meiteis under the aegis of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) last month, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kuki tribes, has proclaimed the Meiteis as their warring enemies and alleged that the Meiteis have out rightly abrogated their forefathers long-cherished bond with the Meiteis viz, Moirang Treaty (1859) and Sanjenthong Treaty (1873) at the COCOMI’s Public Convention on 7th June, 2023
“We are disillusioned at the outright abrogation of our forefathers long-cherished bond with the Meiteis viz, Moirang Treaty (1859) and Sanjenthong Treaty (1873) at the COCOMI’s Public Convention on 7th June, 2023 Ipso facto, no Kuki individual shall re-establish any alliance or bonds whatsoever under any circumstances; and as they have declared war upon us, it is hereby consequently proclaimed that the Meiteis are our warring enemies!” said KIM.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur also issued several decrees to be strictly adhered by the Kuki people on July 3, 2023 at KIC Complex Tuibong, Lamka
“Since the Meiteis have unfortunately waged war upon us on 3rd May 2023, the following Decrees are hereby issued to be strictly adhered to by all the Kuki people on this day of July 3, 2023, at KIC Complex Tuibong, Lamka. In view of the Meiteis waging war against us, it is inevitable for us to defend ourselves for our own security and survival. We do not however wage war upon any one or any community and there is no fault of ours,” KIM said.
In its proclamation issued on the 3 of July, KIM stated that the Kuki chiefs and the Meitei kings had throughout the ages lived together with mutual respect and understanding in their zeal for mutual understanding vis-à-vis land and all other issues. the Kuki chiefs (Khongiai) and the Meitei Kings had signed a number of treaties thereby co-existed peacefully As equal to that our forefathers formulated a road map to be observed by all the Kukis ever since the Kuki Inpi Manipur was revived with the three guiding principles based on non-communal, peaceful co-existence with others and Justice for all, KIM stated.
KIM stated that the time has come wherein every one of the Kukis takes part according to each of their endowed capacities. Let every man get prepared from wherever you are; put on the amour, get hold of the weaponry, in defense of our great nation and ancestral land, retreat not: be strong and courageous! The time is not opportune to have hope and confidence on, and assign to, others. Our lives and destiny remain in our hands, KIM stated.
KIM said “Even after they torched down our houses and brutalized us like wild animals they declared war against the Kukis. We shall defend our God-endowed forefathers and with sweat and blood until death, not even an inch of our land shall be ceded to those who have sworn to be our enemies and we shall protect it even at the cost of our lives.”
It stated that in order to live in the Kukis inalienable forefathers’ land in peace and tranquility it has been the Kukis’ foremost and cherished collective aspiration from today, to govern and administer by themselves under the Constitution of India. Hence, KIM said, they should collectively survive together until separate administration is realized.
“Wherever we are, let every one of us; male and female, young and old defend our ancestral land tooth and nail by not abandoning our hills and villages in whatever ways and capacities we can. To each of our villages, Thingkho-Malcha (symbolic war sign) are being dispatched and to assign responsibility. “Sajang” being sent out to all the chief of Kuki villages the directives of which shall be abided by and complied with,” KIM said.
KIM also issued strict order to those who, in their bid to survive, escaped to other states in the country by deserting their houses/villages to return without any further delay, and no chiefs shall leave or desert their respective villages. Whosoever violates the decrees should be construed as antagonistic and defiant to the national orders and should be deemed to have been self-alienated from the Kuki nation.
