KNO Leader: Kuki Groups May Have Breached Suspension of Operations; Separate Admin Can Wait 20 Yrs

3 months ago 70

It's possible Kuki insurgents may have breached SoO Agreement; prepared to wait 20 years for separate administration: National Spokesperson, Kuki National Organization, Seilen Haokip, to Karan Thapar for The Wire. .......................................... The national spokesperson of the Kuki National Organization, one of the important umbrella organizations that is a part of the SoO Group, has said that it’s possible that some Kuki insurgents may have breached the terms of the SoO Agreement. Seilen Haokip says he does not know and simply cannot confirm whether they have breached the Agreement or they have not done so. Reports that Kuki insurgents have breached the SoO Agreement have appeared in national newspapers. On the 13th of September the Hindustan Times reported that 3 militants of the Kuki Liberation Army, an important constituent of the Kuki National Organization, were amongst those killed in the violence that occurred in Jiribam. I shall stop there. This is a particularly important part of the interview where there is a lot of questioning and cross-questioning and even, at times, aggressive exchanges and you must see this part of the interview for yourself to find out further details of what Mr. Haokip has said. In the interview, Mr. Haokip also clearly states that his organization, the KNO, is prepared to wait for 20 years if need be for a separate administration to be granted to the Kuki people. More about this at the end of this note. In this 45-minute interview, Mr. Haokip strenuously denied claims made in the media – often on the basis of information given by the Manipur police – that the Kukis have been firing rocket propelled grenades from high-tech drones. While the Manipur police have called this a “significant escalation”, Mr. Haokip firmly denies that the Kukis have fired rocket propelled grenades or use drones for this purpose. He says they have used what’s called pumpi guns/cannons not RPGs. He also disputes the account in the press of what happened at the residence of a former Chief Minister in Moirang, when its alleged that a RPG was fired by drone killing one person. Again, you must see the interview for this section. In the interview, Mr. Haokip is questioned about reports that the Kukis have established links with Chinese organizations, have access to highly trained professionals and have received equipment and weaponry from Myanmar. Mr. Haokip is also questioned about the future of the SoO Agreement and the attitude of both Biren Singh(who wants it revoked) and the Central Government. Mr. Haokip is questioned about demands to replace the Security Advisor and DGP as well as to hand over control of the unified command to the Chief Minister. He is questioned about demands raised by R K Imo Singh directly to the Home Minister that the 60,000 Central forces in Manipur should be removed. A significant section of the interview is about the demand for separate administration raised by the Kuki-Zo community. Mr. Haokip says he is a realist and he is not looking for statehood but Union Territory status with a Legislature. Mr. Haokip says the Kukis are prepared to wait for 20 years, if need be, for the separate administration they have demanded. He says he is patient but he is also confident that, eventually, the Central government will concede this demand because, as he puts it, there is no alternative. There is a lot in this 45-minute interview that I have not covered in this brief account of it. This is not a precis or paraphrase of the interview. You must watch this interview yourself to hear all the issues raised and the full answers given. Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join

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