UKLF, ZDV, KRA(U) appeal against Black Day
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 07 2012: Three Kuki underground organizations have jointly appealed to the Kukis not to observe the Black Day.

It may noted here that September 13 is being observed as Black Day by the Kukis every year in remembrance of all those innocent Kukis killed in the 4-year long Naga-Kuki communal clash during 1990s.September 13 is chosen for the observance of Black Day as it was on this single day 108 Kukis were killed in 1993 .

In a joint statement, General Secretary of United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) David Haokip, President of Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV) Kamkhenpau and Commander in Chief (C-in-C) of Kuki Revolutionary Army (United)/KRA (U) Robinson Thadou appealed to the Kukis, particularly those who favour the 13 september Kuki Block Day observance to discontinue as it is 'not going to do us any good' .

"We must focus on peace and harmony other than recalling the past wrongs committed by others.

No doubt, the Naga-Kuki clash of 1992- 95 was still fresh in the minds of many, particularly among the victims, but one must focus on peace and harmony between the two communities for better future.

Observing the day as Kuki Black Day will only elongate the memory of the ugly past incidents and the same would instill ill-will into the minds of young generations.

The end result will benefit none of us," the joint statement said.

It went on to say, "No doubt the Naga-Kuki clash had done grave damage to both the communities and many precious lives have been lost and properties worth crores of rupees have been destroyed.

Several villages have also been dislocated.

The hardships and sufferings of the people knew no bound.

Indeed, the incident had created so big a gap between the two communities socially, politically and psychologically even today.

But the time has come to forgive and forget those ugly days of communal clash for future peace, prosperity and co-operation" .

"Observing the day might not be intended to revive the past enmity but it will infuse ill-feeling into the minds of younger generations, and it will indirectly increase the atmosphere of animosity.

Hence, peace loving people should not go for remembering the things that could invite social disharmony in future", the joint statement cautioned, and announced that taking into consideration of all these factors, the three organizations (UKLF, ZDV and KRA (U) have decided not to allow the Kuki Black Day to be observed in the larger interest of the society.

The joint statement further observed, "We, the tribal of Manipur, became Christian since the last a hundred or more years, if we cannot forgive and forget the mistakes of others, we are not worthy to be followers of Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible focuses mainly on forgiveness and love of others.

Lord Jesus said "whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also ".

He further said "love thy neighbour as you love yourself ".

Yes, we have committed grave sins, but if we could forgive one another God will also forgive us.

A true Christian should have the gads to forgive others.

This significant point cannot be taken lightly since the whole Christian faith lies with it.

Mistakes or wrong doings might have been committed by anybody upon anyone, but Lord Jesus commanded us to forgive others so that the mistake committed by us too might be forgiven.

The Bible candidly stated, 'there is time to scatter away stones,.

and there is time to gather them, there is time to embrace each other and there is time to be separated, there is time for hatred and also time for love'.

Thus, we have had time to hate each other and now is the time to love and forgive the past wrongs.

In this regard, we, the Kukis, should take the lead.

We should not wait someone to say ' sorry'" .

"The time has come to build a stronger, richer and more prosperous society.

In the past we have done many things which we should not have done.

Now the hour has come to forgive and forget the past days.

We have many things in common, we are one in faith, we are the same tribal people, we live together on the same soil for last centuries together, we share the same likes and dislikes, we share similar hardship and happiness, we are identical on many fields of life, our aspiration is similar, we have no future in hating each other and going separately", the three Kuki UG groups exhorted in their joint statement.

"Differences and hatred among ourselves is slowly and steadily eating us away and we have become weaker and weaker in every passing day.

This is not the time to call someone black and someone white.

Let the bygone be bygone but bright future is awaiting us once we forgive and forget our past inglorious days and walk together hand in hand.

The day has arrived to strive together for better tomorrow.

We should no longer be enemy to each other.

In doing this, we would be the only loser and sufferer.

We cannot afford to continue the path of no love lost between us.

It is high time to release the common future we have.

Why should we be allowed to be taken away by past memories?", the joint statement asked.

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