The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) has said that it will fight ‘tooth and nail’ against any attempts by the Manipur Government to establish designated camps in the Kuki-Zo tribal areas for the surrendered cadres of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) – Pambei faction.
Claiming that the intention of UNLF is to wipe off the Kuki-Zo off their ancestral land, UKNA stated that this proposal of the Manipur Government is another ploy to grab tribal lands and cautioned, “UKNA will not remain a mere spectator”.
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In another press release, the Kuki Impi Saikul Gamkai too condemned the rumoured plan of the N Biren Singh’s government to “shelter” the surrendered UNLF (P) cadres in Kakching Khunou Ingourok, Jiribam Kwatha and Moreh.
“If this news is true, it is nothing but an ambiguous decision by the Government that will unleash another wave of the Reign of Terror in the already strife-torn state of Manipur” the Kuki Impi Saikul Gamkai warned.
The organisation mentioned that UNLF (P) “still upholds demand for Manipur’s sovereignty and states that no weapons will be laid down unless their goal of sovereignty is achieved.” Claiming that the surrendered militants are still seen freely moving around in the Manipur valley with sophisticated weapons, the Kuki organisation questioned the Tripartite Peace Agreement “without the militants giving up their demand for an independent state, which poses the highest national security threat.”
It may be mentioned that the Government of India and the Government of Manipur signed a Peace Agreement with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur in New Delhi on 29th November 2023. It was the first time a valley-based Manipuri armed group had entered such an agreement with the GoI.
Read more: GoI, Govt of Manipur sign Peace Agreement with valley based UNLF
Two days later, around 25 leaders/cadres of National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM- a Meitei UG outfit) led by Major Boicha (Vice Chief of Army Staff of NRFM) along with 25 weapons joined UNLF.
On 4th December 2023, 13 bodies with bullet wounds were recovered in Kuki-dominated Tengnoupal district who were later identified to be Meitei men. “They are suspected to be cadres of proscribed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Revolutionary People’s Front, a valley based insurgent group,” the Ukhrul Times had said in a report.
