KNF reiterates demand for Kukiland

By A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 16: Reiterating its demand for a separate “Kuki State”, the Kuki National Front (KNF), one of the oldest Kuki insurgent group in Manipur, submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister, P Chidambaram during the later’s two visit to the state yesterday.

The memorandum signed by the president of the outfit, TS Thangboi Kipgen, was submitted by the general secretary of the outfit, Aaron H Kipgen at the Raj Bhawan, Imphal yesterday afternoon.

In the meantime, the KNF is expected to have a meeting with the Home Minister in Delhi in the near future in connection with their demand.

“The Home Minister has granted an appointment to meet him in New Delhi in this connection” said Aaron H. Kipgen yesterday and however asserted that the date is yet to be fixed.

The KNF said the organisation had submitted four memorandum in the year 1960, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2006 with regard to demand for a separate Kuki state, Kukiland, which still stands. It said the organisation demanding nothing short of the proposed Kukiland. We remain firm in our demands for creation of Kukiland within the framework of the Constitution of India”, the memorandum said.

The memorandum acknowledge the power of the Union Government of India under Article 3 of the Constitution of India as regards formation of new states, state within state and alteration of areas, boundaries or existing states.

The memorandum recalled that since 2003 there have been many round of peace talks between the Government of India and the KNF mediated by Zoramthanga, former Chief Minister of Mizoram who have been active in peaceful negotiation between the GOI and various other revolutionary groups of the North East. On August 1, 2005, Suspension of Operation (SoO) was first signed between the GOI and KNF to initiate and facilitate a process of peaceful and meaningful political dialogue.

The Suspension of Operation agreement included the Government of Manipur in 2008 and became a tripartite venture in New Delhi on 22 August which has been moving progressively till today. While extending their gratitude for declaring the main Objective of the extension of SoO in 2010 to be a peaceful and meaningful political dialogue so that the vexed political problems of the Kukis could be amicably settled, the KNF also hoped that the GOI will make all possible efforts as soon as possible to bring about lasting solution to the political problems of the Kukis.

Apart from highlighting their demands the memorandum further stretch the historical background of the Kukis starting from pre independence movement of the country till date including the genesis of the armed movement of the Kukis, Kuki-Mizo Alliance and geographical distribution etc.