The Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi district staged a massive peaceful sit-in on Wednesday to press the Central Government to materialise the ‘separate administration’ demand in the talks with the UPF and KNO on Wednesday.
The political talks between the United People’s Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organization (KNO) with the Centre in the national capital on Wednesday marked the resumption of the formal talks.
This is the first formal meeting between the two conglomerate organisations of the Kuki militants and the Centre since May 3, even though an informal round of discussions has been held on a couple of occasions in the last two and half months.
In support of the UPF-KNO, the Kuki-Zo people in Kangpokpi District held a peaceful sit-in at Gamgiphai, the bordering village of Kangpokpi district with Imphal West, spearheaded by the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi.
The UPF and KNO talk’s Kuki-Zo supporters held banners and placards like, “We support UPF and KNO in the talks”, “Declare Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo people”, “We have decided to live separately, no turning back..no turning back”, “Separate Administration the only permanent solution”, “Gallow Rapists of the Kuki-Zo women”, etc.
As the sit-in was held at Gamgiphai, many other members of the Kuki-Zo community held prayers at various churches for the success of the talks.
CoTU general secretary Lamminlun Singsit said that the solidarity peaceful sit-in aims at sending a message to the Centre about the spirited demand of the Kuki-Zo people for separate administration and to materialize it during the talks.
He continued that it is also a message to the UPF and KNO, who represented the Kuki-Zo people in the talks, that we spiritedly stand united in support of your representation and pray for your success, but never compromise the aspirations of your people with anything else except separate administration.
He also said that as we wholeheartedly appreciated the Centre for its timely decision to resume the formal talks with the UPF and KNO, we convey our trust in the Centre Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the Kuki-Zo problems and initiate a bold step for a permanent solution by declaring a separate administration.
The solidarity and peaceful sit-in also echoed capital punishment for all the culprits involved in parading naked and raping of Kuki-Zo women.
