KIM rebukes N. Biren Singh's statement, dares to come out with names of Kukis he reaches out to

Refuting the Manipur Chief Minister’s claim of reaching out to 'Kuki brothers and sisters' for peace yesterday in an interview with a news agency, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has categorically stated that N. Biren Singh was deliberately misleading the public in general and particularly the Kuki Zo people.

“Biren Singh's statement was nothing but his standard stratagem to flummox the public with his deliberately misleading fabrications,” KIM said.

In his interview to a news agency which was telecast on TV channels, N. Biren Singh said that he had reached out to 'Kuki brothers and sisters' for peace regarding the ongoing State- sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kukis.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur, an apex body of the Kukis, stated that it would like to clear confusion and doubt of all that it was never a party to Biren Singh's peace initiative with his Kuki brothers and sisters.'

in a press release issued on Sunday, KIM dared N. Biren Singh to come out with the names of his 'Kuki brothers and sisters' if at all he had reached out to the Kukis.

KIM claimed that it neither acknowledged any Kuki individuals or organizations that brokered peace with Biren Singh nor will it do so against the wishes of its people.

As stated repeatedly, KIM said it stands with its people and will not negotiate peace with anyone unless justice is delivered first to its people who endure untold sufferings, physical and mental torments, under the regime of despotic Biren Singh and his associates.

The Kuki apex body, as of now, has no reason to stretch out the olive branch when their people and land come under constant and intensified attacks from extremist Meitei militants backed by State forces.

"KIM will not fall prey to Biren or anybody's propagandistic agenda," it stated, and urged Biren Singh to stop resorting to spreading manufactured narratives, lies and misinformation with the sole intention to score brownie points among the radicalized Meitei public.

KIM stated that it was about time that the Meitei public too would better understand Biren's tactic of fibbing, spreading canards and spinning lies to mislead and instil false confidence among them.

“Any Kuki individuals/organisations brokering peace without the knowledge and against the wishes of the Kuki people and KIM will face the consequences on their own," said KIM.

The Kuki apex body also cautioned all concerned people to remain guarded against propaganda and hooks clandestinely plotted and planted by their adversaries.

Vehemently condemning the continuous attacks on its people in the peripheral areas and foothills, KIM stated that the extremist Meitei militants beheaded one villager of Langja village and hang on the street during the attack on Langza Kuki village under Samulamlan Sub-Division of Churachandpur district with the assistance of State forces since the wee hours of Sunday.

Stating that Langza is in the buffer zone, KIM also drew the attention of the  Central Government that the attack was in total disregard to such buffer zones set up by the Central security forces.

KIM also reminded N. Biren Singh that extremist militants under his command and Meitei CSOs should also note that 'Peace' and 'Attack' cannot go together.

Also reacting to Biren statement, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum(ITLF) has clarified that it was not aware of any contact between the chief minister and the Kuki Civil Society Organisation groups.

ITLF stated that it maintained its stance of never entering into any dialogue with the state government, whose anti-tribal policies and propaganda led to the ethnic violence in Manipur

Regarding the United People’s Front and Kuki National Organisation's announcement of lifting of the blockade at Kangui (NH-2), ITLF clarified that it was not consulted and did not endorse the move.