Incidents and Statements involving Kuki National Army: 2013

Date

Nature of incident

January 1

New Delhi

Churachandpur District of Manipur

The KNO has firmly opposed oil exploration in Churachandpur and parts of Tamenglong Districts of Manipur, claiming that they are the ancestral land of the Kuki people. In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister of India, KNO, one of the two umbrella organisations of the Kuki militant outfits claimed that Churachandpur and parts of Tamenglong Districts are the integral part of Kuki ancestral lands.

Imphal in Manipur

The primary demands raised by both UPF and KNO, the two conglomerates of Kuki militant groups not only go against the tenets of the SoO pact but are untenable as well as impractical. While the UPF has been demanding a Hill Autonomous State for the Kukis living in Manipur, KNO has been urging for an exclusive Kuki State. However, the SoO pact signed between UPF, KNO, the State Government and the Government of India clearly laid down that the pact should not impinge upon the territorial integrity of Manipur.

KSDC has temporarily suspended its indefinite public blockade that has been imposed in all the Kuki dominated areas of Manipur following an agreement reached between the State Government and the committee.

Leaders of KSDC met with the Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh to bring a solution to end the stalemate, KSDC leaders said. The KSDC leaders said it has been decided to temporarily suspend its stir from January 28 after both the state and central Governments had given a positive response to its call for starting political dialogues with the two umbrella organizations of Kuki militants, KNO and UPF which are signatories to SoO involving both the Manipur and Central Governments. However, both sides did not disclose the official details of the meeting.

IB director PC Haldar will lead the Central team in the upcoming political dialogues between the Centre and Kuki militant groups under SoO. According to an informed source, consensus has been arrived at between the Central Government and the two umbrella organisations of Kuki militant groups namely UPF and KNO on the appointment of PC Haldar as the interlocutor for the upcoming political dialogue. Public blockades were enforced in recent times by the Kuki State Demand Committee in pursuit of its demand for a political dialogue with Kuki SoO groups. Following assurance by the State authorities that the issue would be placed before the Centre, the Committee consequently decided to suspend its agitation.

Churachandpur District in Manipur

The dead body of a KNO militant was recovered from Kotsuohoi village, about four kilometres west from Lamka.

New Delhi

The Centre would definitely include the KSDC in the forthcoming talks with Kuki groups to resolve the grievances which are leading to blockades and many disturbances in Manipur. This was disclosed in an exclusive interview by Sh Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (NE) of MHA.

Senapati District of Manipur

Referring to the killing incident, the KNO, said it deeply regretted the unfortunate circumstances that led to the demise of Haokhosei Lhouvum alias Josh Seiboi, a member of SoO Joint Monitoring Group. The KNO statement issued by 'Under Secretary' T Stephen said the 'demise' was caused by cadres of the organization on January 29, and that the KNO 'offers sincere condolences to the family members and dear ones'.

Karbi Anglong Distinct of Assam

KNA-Karbi Anglong unit observed the 'Political Autonomy demand day' at its head office named Kuki-Kho in Manja near Diphu in Karbi Anglong District. The celebration was attended by all Kuki chiefs (Haosa), with other frontal Kuki organizations including KRA and UKDA.

The advisor of the ZRO and Representative of the UPF K Guite, who arrived in New Delhi, said that Autonomous Hill State is on the agenda of UPF. He stated, "We propose an Autonomous Hill State". The current Suspension of Operation (SoO) extension of the UPF with the State and Central Government will last till August 2013. Guite said that UPF had submitted Memoranda and Charter of Demands to the Central Government. Appointment of an interlocutor and initiating a political dialogue is expected to begin soon, he said. According to the ZRO advisor, the proposal for an Autonomous Hill State is a non-communal approach.

While stating that the demand for an 'Alternative Arrangement' for Naga areas and the Kuki Statehood demand are community specific that will further deepen the division among the communities of the hills, Guite said that the Autonomous Hill State would not only speed up development in the hills but also bring peace in the hills and Manipur at large. This administrative re-organization will also maintain the territorial integrity of the State. "In their demand for a Kuki State, the Kuki National Organization (KNO) has violated the SoO preamble," declared Guite.

A statement issued by Imphal East Superintendant of Police said Letkholal Khongsai alias Lalboi (38) and Seilal Haokip (37) were arrested along with an extortion note of KNA-I duly signed by one Zeams Kuki. On verification, they said that they joined the outfit in December 2012 through one Haokholet Haokip of Sapermeina, 'Sergeant Major' of KNA-I.

The President of KNO, P.S Haokip, presented his political road map to the people as well as its Suspension of Operation (SoO) partner, the UPF as the organization (KNO) which he has commanded celebrated its 26th raising day at Mata Lambulane, an outskirts village along the Tipaimukh Road. The KNO raising day celebration was attended by Calvin H from the ZRO as chief guest and Sanga Hmar from the HPC-D both members of UPF.

Senapati district in Manipur

The KRA-U has said in a release that the KNO/KRA-U cabinets along with its Commander-in-Chief, SHT George and its members have conducted a warm welcome ceremony of those faction cadres of the merged UPF/KRA-U to their origin KNO/KRA-U at KNO/KRA-U general Head Quarter, somewhere in Sadar Hills in Senapati District.

The KNO/KNA accused a outfit named KPLF of launching a grenade attack on March 11 at the residence of Chandel ADC Chairman. T Stephen, Under Secretary, information and publicity wing' of KNO/KNA added that as Moreh is the tactical headquarters of KNO/KNA and thus assault of any nature in the border township is taken as directed against their organization.

strongly refuting to the allegation hurled at him by KNO/KNA that the militant outfit KPLF was formed by him and that the latter outfit was responsible for the bomb attack at the residence of Sesei Zou, chairman of ADC of Chandel District in the border town Moreh on March 11, Lalpu Mate said he is now leading a normal life and has no link with any militant organisation.

The KNO accused the NSCN-IM of killing one Moshon Saka Maring, a deserter of NSCN-IM on March 19. According to Stephen Kuki, KNO's 'undersecretary' in-charge of information and publicity claimed that Moshon was the 'home secretary' of the little known militant outfit UMLA, which is said to be a constituent of the KNO. The reason for the crime against him was his desire to be who he is i.e. Kuki which UMLA represents, rather than be linked as 'politically Naga'," the KNO leader further alleged.

Six insurgent groups are currently active in Assam while 12 others in talks with the Central and State Government, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said. Six groups - ULFA-ATF, NDFB-ATF/ NDFB-IKS, KPLT, KLO, MULTA and HuM-are active in the State; Hussain said replying to a question in the House.

Hussain said outfits in talks were NDFB's Progressive faction, ULFA-PTF, KLNLF, ACMA, BCF, KRA, UKDA, KLA, HPC-D, APA, AANLA and STF.

The NDFB-RD and the NSLA have declared unilateral ceasefire, Hussain said while replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, said.

Two groups -BTF and ULFBV have already surrendered. Settlement has been reached by the central and state governments with the UPDS and the two factions of the DHD.

"However, details regarding the progress of talks with various outfits cannot be disclosed now," Hussain said. On cases faced by leaders and cadres of outfits in talks, he said, "We will not lift the cases faced by them. The cases will be dealt by the courts and judiciary. A monthly assistance of INR 3,000 is provided to each cadre belonging to groups engaged in peace talks.

Churachandpur District of Manipur

A KNO militant, identified as Hengangam Kuki (27), was arrested from Koite village. A .9 mm pistol along with a magazine loaded with nine live rounds of 9 mm ammunition was recovered from his possession.

Emphasising its focus on development, the 'Anti-Corruption' Mobile Team of the KNO has released key reforms for the public and the society. According to a statement issued by the 'Public Relations secretary' of KNO, Helien Kipgen, the four points binding reforms included that no chief/individuals/Govt officials should pay, offer, demand or accept bribe for exchange of favour or benefits. Prescribing that no chiefs or Government officials should manipulate funds/benefits meant for the common people, the KNO reforms also said that sanctions, funds/grants etc received either from the Centre or State should directly reach the destination meant for.

KNO/KNA has decreed that the Transport Contractors intending to transport food grains and sugar from FCI depots to various PDCs on Sadar Hills routes must take the approval/consent from the outfit. Negligence in this regard would not be tolerated at any cost, said a press release issued by the outfit.

Union Minister for Home Affairs Sushilkumar Shinde in his address said that SoO Agreements have been entered with various insurgent groups in the Northeast and these groups have shown willingness to give up violence and seek solutions for their problems peacefully within the Constitution. "Our government is ready to talk with any group or outfit which is willing to abjure violence and lay down arms like KNO and UPF in Manipur. Further, Metei groups like URF, KCP and KYKL along with their factions, signed MoS in February, 2013 paving way for surrender of their cadres," he said. Shinde said peace talks are also being held with a number of outfits like ULFA, NDFB-P and NDFB-RD. These strategies have resulted in steady reduction in the level of violence. "Moreover, the aforesaid strategy of the government has also encouraged surrender by militants belonging to various groups and their participation in the political process. The central government is continuously assisting the northeastern states by the deployment of central paramilitary forces to assist the state police in counter-insurgency operations and upgrading their skill level", he added.

With NSCN-IM refusing to return the weapons their cadres snatched from three cadres of KNO/KNA, the latter has decided to block Imphal-Ukhrul road indefinitely with effect from 6pm on June 11. KNO/KNA 'information and publicity secretary' Rex Kuki told that the outfit has been compelled to block Imphal-Ukhrul road as NSCN-IM failed to return the confiscated weapons by June 9. Some NSCN-IM cadres who came in a Tata Winger van and a Bolero jeep overpowered three cadres of KNO/KNA at Mahadev Lamkhai along Imphal-Ukhrul road on June 8 and snatched a pistol. In addition, the three KNO/KNA cadres were physically assaulted by the NSCN-IM cadres, he said.

The proposed indefinite blockade of Imphal-Ukhrul road which was to be in effect from 6 pm following a call by the KNO has now been called off in the evening of June 11 considering the hardship it will cause to the public. On June 8, cadres of NSCN-IM had allegedly assaulted some cadres of KNO at Mahadev Lamkhai along Imphal-Ukhrul road and confiscated some weapons of the latter group. Demanding the return of the confiscated weapons and condemning the incident, the KNO had announced to call the indefinite blockade.

The KSDC threatened to resume its agitation unless the Centre begins a political dialogue immediately with the Kuki militant groups that had signed a suspension of operations agreement. The demand committee had suspended its public blockade imposed along all the lifelines of Manipur from February 28, 2013 in view of the High School Leaving Certificate Examination and Higher Secondary School Examination.

"The committee has now decided to intensify the temporarily-suspended general strike in Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur if the delaying tactics of the government continue. Moreover, the general strike will be followed by a economic blockade as well," George Guite, the information secretary of the demand committee, said in a release today.

A team of Tousem Police station in Tamenglong District has reportedly recovered an INSAS rifle, 45 rounds and three magazines from Kulbung area of Tousem sub-division in Tamenglong District. The weapon recovered by the Police team led by Sub Inspector Shining Thumra, is said to be out of four taken away by 5th Battalion Manipur Rifles personnel Jamkholal Lupho, who had recently decamped from the battalion's unit post located at a rail-line construction site. Sources say that Jamkholal was a member of KNA who surrendered and joined the State force.

A team of NAB reportedly arrested a 'wing commander' of the KNA, Chasad Camp, Ukhrul District, along with another cadre with a large sum of money while coming towards Imphal at Yaingangpokpi area in Imphal East District in the afternoon. According to Police sources, the arrested persons were, identified as 'wing commander', Letkhosei Haokip (37) and Paokhulun Haokip (25). They were arrested along with one 9mm Pistol and a large sum of money amounting to above INR 900,000.

Saying that a new organisation in the name of TPOM has been floated recently with UPF support, the KNO has questioned if the exclusivist NSCN-IM is in accord with the proposal put up by TPOM. TPOM had proposed political arrangements within the so-called State of Manipur which presumes political unity between the two tribal groups, Naga and Kuki, it said.

However, the Information and Publicity Wing of the UPF, on June 24, issued a press clarification on the KNO statement which appeared in some daily newspaper dated June 24 saying that the TPOM was formed in connivance with the NSCN-IM as totally baseless.

The KSDC is all set to impose bandh (shut down strike) and economic blockade from 5 am of July 7. The bandh intends to put more pressure on the Government for a peaceful solution for the Kuki community. KSDC had earlier imposed parallel bandh but suspended after the State Government gave it assurance to fulfill its demands by March 2013. The committee has been demanding both the State and Central Governments to start peace parleys with the Kuki armed groups-the KNO and UPF-which are signatories to the SoO involving both the Central and State Governments.

UPF convenor Aaron Kipgen clarified that the strike cum economic blockade by KSDC does not have the support of UPF. As per agreement between UPF and KNO, any movement regarding political dialogue that concern SoO groups should have prior information of both the umbrella organisations. Refusing to acknowledge KSDC, Aaron also questioned as to who gave the right to KSDC to impose band blockade.

Imphal East commandos arrested KNO cadre identified as Solal Touthang alias Kansa alias Lalboy (38) from New Lambulane, Tribal Market.

KRA-U which is the armed wing under the umbrella organisation of KNO has said that some of its cadres have been expelled from the organization with effect from August 19. According to a press release of KRA-U, the said cadres - Letgoulen alias Kennedy, Seibem alias SB Balke, Lampao alias Zefferson, Paothangalias Thoi, and Lunmang alias Jelvy - ignored and opposed the high command order and stood against the general public by outraging innocent civil public and betrayed the organization even after they had apologized to the organisation several times for their 'misdeeds'.

Two factions of KRA-U, which were earlier affiliated to KNO and UPF respectively have united to form a single unit under UPF, claimed Robinson Thadou, president of the united KRA-U during a press meet held somewhere in Sadar Hills in Senapati District.

The KNO, an umbrella body of Kuki militant groups, reaffirmed its demand for a separate Kuki state carved out of Manipur's territory. "At this juncture of our history and in the context of the present state of Manipur, KNO and its constituent member organisations are focused on realising a separate Kuki state," KNO 'president' P.S. Haokip said in his message, read out by KNO home secretary T. Anton during the 8th foundation day of UMLA at Camp Hermon in Chandel district, about 80km from here.

A statement issued by one Seipu alias Ishael, said that UTLA, SoOs signatory under KNO has initiated disciplinary action against its Genereal Secretary, Siehzahau Singsit alias ST Singsit who remains suspended with effect from November 12 for violating the norms of the organisation. The statement cautioned all not to stand against the judgment passed and warned from recruiting or entertaining him in any form during his period of suspension.

The KNO has advised all Kuki people of Chandel District to refrain from attending the alleged concocted Kuki Peoples' Forum invitation regarding the 'Kuki-Naga Reconciliation Day celebration' to be held on November 16 at District Sports Complex, Christian Village of Chandel,. Rather than following on their own tenet 'Nagaland for Christ', Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has resorted to their usual subversive method to gain control of Chandel District through the UKLF, which is unfathomably aligned to them.

Day after the KNO advised Kukis against attending an alleged concocted reconciliation meet slated to be held on November 16, the UKLF, on November 15, appealed all to support and join the peace and reconciliation programme without any doubt and hesitation saying "We must forgive and forget the past so that peace and development visited us again."

An official report from Churachandpur District said a militant of KNA, identified as Th Naoba (42), was taken into custody during frisking of passersby at Bijang area in the District.

The JWC of the KNO and UPF, the umbrella organisations of Kuki armed groups on tripartite SoO pact, has decided to determine its own course if political dialogue is not initiated before the coming Lok Sabha election. This was among other resolutions adopted during a meeting of the Joint Working Committee of the UPF and KNO held at Churachandpur District.

The UKRA has clarified that one K Shonkholen Kom alias Mark was not abducted by the outfit but apprehended from near Vengnom gate as he was not the 'president' of KSU, Churachandpur but a self styed 'president' who always gives harassment and threats to Kom chiefs and Government employees for his personal gain. A statement issued by UKRA-KNO further warned that Shonkholen alias Mark will be awarded direct punishment if he is found indulging in such anti-people activities again.