UKLF celebrates anniversy, slams Delhi
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, March 29 2011: United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) accused New Delhi of doing precious nothing for the success of the much feted trilateral Suspension of Operation (SoO) signed between the government of Manipur, Union government and the two consortiums of Kuki militant groups, Kuki National Organization (KNO) and United Peoples' Front (UPF).

TL Jacob Thadou, secretary, UKLF and convener UPF (one of the two umbrella organisations of the Kuki militant outfits) and member of Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) stated this today during a media briefing on the sideline of the 16th raising day celebration of UKLF at its designated Nazareth Camp, Muvanphoi, in Chandel district of Manipur.

He appealed to the government to initiate a joint meeting with the two umbrella groups of the Kuki militants who are under the SoO while maintaining that the Union government has so far met the two groups only separately.

He expressed his desire for the two groups to sit across the table in the process of sorting out possible political solution.

Except the meeting in New Delhi on August 22, 2010, with both the groups separately for the extension of the SoO, the Union government has remained silent and has not taken the initiative to set the process rolling for political dialogue, he added, saying that the process of achieving any semblance of political solution is therefore stuck in a limbo.

The government is only concerned about the violation of the ground rules of SoO by its cadres, but it is stoic indifferent to the welfare of the cadres who are finding it etremely difficult to subsist on the meager stipend of Rs 3000 to the lower cadres and Rs 5000 to officer ranks.

The issue to this effect has also been raised in the JMG meeting by the SoO signatories but it has fallen on deft ear of the government, alleged Jacob, adding that the accusation by the government that its cadres move out of the designated camps against the ground rules of SoO is a lame excuse.

"If the government does not provide sufficient ration for the camps, the cadres are wont to venture out to their respective homes to find food," he said.

While the demand for separate state within the Union of India has been foreclosed in the agreement signed under SoO, the Kuki civil society and the UKLF have found an alternative demand for the Kuki society under the banner of Kuki (Khulmi) Development Council Demand Committee.

In this regard, TL Jacob Thadou stated that Kuki Development Council is the only pragmatic way to usher in prosperity and development in Kuki areas at par with developments in the valley districts of Manipur.

He urged the government to initiate a Joint JMG sitting of the two Kuki militant groups who are signatory to the SoO.

The 16th raising day ceremony of UKLF was celebrated in the presence of representatives from Kuki Chief Association, Kuki Peoples' Forum, Kuki Women Human Right, Kuki Students' Organization, Thadou Students' Association, Thadou Tribe Council, MDCs and nearby villagers.

A grand feast marked the end of the festivity.

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