Kuki National Organisation Observes Black Day for 1993 “Kuki Genocide” perpetrated by the NSCN-IM, Demands Justice from Central

Imphal: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) which is said to be the umbrella group of 17 armed groups of the Kuki tribe had appealed before the Central Government to settle the issue of “Kuki Genocide” perpetrated by the NSCN-IM in the year 1993, the armed group had also urged the Central Government to come into a solution before coming to a deal with the Naga militants.

It is to be noted that the KNO, which is one of the two umbrella groups under a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the governments, also warned that the outcome of the Indo-Naga peace deal must not affect Kuki territory on any condition.

As per a media report, the tribe has also urged the Central Government that they should settle the issue of the Kuki first and stop giving undue attention to the Naga militant for being the perpetrators,” said Dr Seilen Haokip, spokesperson of the umbrella group of KNO.

Haokip also claimed that the Kuki tribe has been marginalized, he added, “the Kukis should be given the opportunity to live with dignity along with its Nagas and Meiteis brothers.”

“Although the content of the Naga-Framework Agreement is unknown, it is obvious that it intends to bring a solution to the Naga issues. But, in doing so, the Kuki territory should not be affected,” he warned further.

Demanding justice, Haokip also stated that justice should be done for all concerned and not just Naga but the Kukis and Meiteis.

It may also be mentioned that on Tuesday three monoliths, inscribed with the names of 1157 persons who were victims of the “Kuki genocide” were erected at Kuki Inpi Churachandpur complex, in Tuibong, Churachandpur district.

Earlier, on September 13, 1993, as many as 115 Kuki villagers including women and children were allegedly killed by the armed cadres of the NSCN-IM in a single day in different places of Tamenglong and the erstwhile Senapati district in Manipur which is known as “Joupi Massacre”.

Marking the 25^th years of the sensational massacre, the tribe had observed ‘SAHNIT-NI’ (Kuki Black Day) in remembrance of the victims killed during the ethnic clash starting from 1992 to 1997. The Kuki Black Day is organized for three days starting from September 11.