IMPHAL, May 19: The Kuki National Front (KNF) celebrated its silver jubilee at Camp Ebenezer , Natheljang on Friday. The KNF president Semtinthang Kipgen was also awarded the Bharat Excellence Award at the occasion.
Located at a hilltop, Camp Ebenezer is located along the National Highway 39 near Kangpokpi. The twenty five years of KNF, a SoO signatory was celebrated following its establishment on May 18, 1987.
The formal function saw top functionaries of the KNF and its sympathizers. The function was also attended by Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen and ADC chairman Sh Seipu. The occasion saw a vast turnout of locals from all over the state.
At the outset of the function, many Kuki artists performed to the crowd and dance troupes exhibiting different traditional dances of the Kuki community further enthralled the crowd.
A souvenir and a calendar depicting the KNF movement were released by the president. A monolith erected in culmination with the jubilee with dedication to the KNF founder ‘Pu’ Nehlu Kipgen was also unveiled by the president.
In his speech, Semtinthang Kipgen stated that the time is ripe for the Kuki revolution to forge ahead. “The time has come now, for us to reassert ourselves after 25 years of our struggle, freedom from suppression, oppression and subjugation”, he said.
He further said that being Indians, one should live as a full fledged Indian and with protection due to a citizen of the country.
Mentioning historical aspects of the Kuki independence movement, the president stated that other north east states achieved a concession from the centre with their tabled approach, citing examples of the Naga, Mizo, Tripura liberation movements, the president stated that history has been unfavorable except that ‘one significant process of the armed revolutionary movement in the Kuki history is the signing of the suspension of operations on August 1, 2005, to initiate and facilitate a meaningful dialogue.” He added that the vexing problems of the Kukis will be solved by this political move.
The president appealed to all revolutionary leaders to “shrug off the narrow outlooks based on nepotism and self aggrandizement, but broaden our outlooks so that we may share a common platform for the achievement of our goals”, he said.
At the occasion, the families of the KNF cadres who had passed away were felicitated with gifts by the president.