The Kuki National Front, or the KNF, the mother organisation of the Kuki armed militant groups, declared a potent political statement during its 37th Rising Day commemoration today at S. Molnom Village in Kangpokpi District.
Thirty-seven years back, on May 18, 1987, KNF was founded in Molnoi village, Myanmar. It became the oldest and mother organization of the Kuki militant groups not only in Manipur but in the entire North East India. The year 1988 marked the first anniversary, or Rising Day, of the outfit.
Founded by the late Nehlun Kipgen, the Kuki National Front entered into a tripartite agreement, the Suspension of Operation (SoO), under the umbrella of the United People’s Front (UPF) with the state government and the Government of India on August 22, 2008.
Reaffirming its commitment to protect and defend its people and land from any aggression or atrocities, the Kuki National Front declared its readiness and preparedness to respond decisively against trespassers crossing the buffer zones with the intent to harm or attack areas dominated by the Kuki-Zo on its 37th Rising Day.
“We will now decisively respond to anyone crossing the buffer zones with malicious intentions to harm or attack our people or to seize our land,” asserted Aaron Kipgen, General Secretary of KNF while addressing the gathering commemorating the SoO signatory’s 37th Rising Day.
Aaron Kipgen, who is also the Spokesperson of the United People’s Front, or the UPF, emphasized the relevance of ‘Buffer Zones’ and urges all stakeholders to respect this ‘mechanism of deterrence’ between the two geographical divide; the Hills, occupied by the Kuki-Zo and the Valley, predominantly occupied by the Meitei community.
The organization also reiterated its stance for Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with legislative power for the kindred tribes of the entire Kuki-Zo community during the commemoration.
Aaron Kipgen further said that it’s been 16 long years since we came under the Suspension of Operations while having political talks with the Government, though our vexed political issues are yet to be addressed.
He urged the Kuki-Zo people to give one more chance to the new Government that will be formed in June, as he conveyed his belief that the political dialogue will be expedited after the new Government is formed and a political solution will soon be achieved.
He also expressed his belief that democracy will triumph over tyranny and justice will prevail over lawlessness while emphasizing that true freedom is being able to call a place our own, and that there will be no peace without a political solution for the Kuki-Zo.
He finally appealed to his people to remain steadfast in prayer and faith in the Constitution and Judiciary of the great nation of India.
The 37th Kuki National Front Rising Day commemoration was also attended by Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, and tribes organisations leaders, student bodies, women organisations, Sadar Hills Chiefs’ Association, Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills, apart from various other Kuki-Zo civil society organisations.
Rev. Mangcha Tuboi, Pastor, KBC Salem Saparmeina attended as Minister of the auspicious event, while prominent Kuki-Zo leaders also spoke on the occasion.
