IMPHAL, July 11: The Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) sponsored agitation ends this evening at 5 pm but it affirmed that the Kuki people will not get cowed down by certain statements from politicians.
Two days ago, Manipur home minister Gaikhangam had stated that no Kuki state or for that matter, Manipur state will not be carved out for any ethnic community and for their separate territory.
On Thursday, the KSDC said the historical facts and legitimate political rights and aspirations of the Kukis for self-determination to under the constitution of India in the ancestral lands which our fore-fathers protect from the colonialists will continue.
“The Kuki people never encroach nor demand any lands/territories of other but want to the redrawn the artificial political boundaries which was appended with Manipur without the consent of the landowners-The Kukis. Historically/politically, the Kukis never signed any agreement with Government of India nor the Government of Manipur for the integration or disintegration of Manipur and else.The Kuki State Demand Committee has been pressuring the Government of India and Government of Manipur to hold dialogue with the Kuki UGs as SoO was signed in 2008 to raise the vexed Kuki political issue,” the KSDC said and questioned, “If not, why was the Government to sign Suspension of Operation (SoO) with Kuki undergrounds ? Or is the Government agenda to the returned of the hard earn peace in Kuki areas to keep at bay?”
The KSDC and the Kuki people will continue our struggle for political self-determination under the Indian constitution democratically based on non-violence people’s movement till we governed in our ancestral land, it pledged.
The KSDC then appreciates the mass support during the 36 hours general strike(5.00am of 8th July to 5.00pm of 9th July) and 48 hours Economic Blockade(5.00pm of 8th July to 5.00 pm of 11th July,2013) in all the Kuki dominated areas of present day Manipur and in all the life lines of Manipur passing Kuki areas.
“The Kukis have no future in the present state of affairs in present Manipur state -no security of life and liberty(the Kuki genocide of the 1990s,the planting of land-mines in Kuki areas killed and maining many innocent Kuki villagers and mass raping of women in the 2000s).Deprivation/segregation of the Kukis and its territories for development .Time to time interference of the state Government in the affairs of the kuki unit of governance ie.the village by enacting different acts through state administrative mechanism which is against the rights guaranteed by the constitution to the tribals(Kukis).The Kukis wants full protection by the constitution of India in their affaires nothing more nothing less in the form of Kuki State,” the KSDC stated.
It then stated that the statement of some politicians of the state by way of intimidating the people movement will never be cowed down the aspirations of the Kukis for self-determination rather will be added fuel to the fire as the people know their legitimate rights.
“The scarificial minds of the people by coming out on the street in support of the general strike called is a testimony to be stated.Rather than mudsliging,expediate process for political dialogue with SoO groups and adress the Kuki political issue which will be panacea for all the stake holders or else peoples’ movement will continue,” it affirmed.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ksdc-blockade-ends/
