Haflong with local pressmen and openly declared their decision by presenting a press release and also through an announcement in this regard during this press meet.

In the release, their president K. Thangew, said that KLO/KLA (Assam) was formed in 1993 by late Paomang (the then President), to protect the interests of the Kuki community in Assam. Later, it joined hands with KLO/KLA Manipur in 2005, but seeing the latter’s inability to grasp the ground realities, lack of will to act to protect the welfare, interests, and address the mistreatment of the Kukis of Assam, they separated entirely from the KLO/ KLA Manipur and severed all links with them which was declared in a press release on 28th October 2011 which stated that the KLO/KLA (Manipur) headed by one Mr. L. Jacob has no moral rights here and on the KLO/KLA (Assam).

The recent press release asserted that keeping in mind the interests and welfare of Kukis in Assam KLO/KLA has declared a unilateral ceasefire with the State and Central Government and security forces in their area of operations i.e. Kuki regions of Assam (East Karbi, West Karbi, Barak Valley, Cachar and N.C.Hills). The outfit has approximately 80 cadre in its military wing who are committed not to indulge in any anti-government activity, will not morally or physically or in principle support any organization/party/group involved in anti-government activities, cease all military operations against anybody, not indulge in any tax collection or harass civil community, cease recruitment and training of fresh cadre forthwith.

“We condemn IPF support of militant activities and organizations like HTF (Hills Tiger Force) in misleading the Kuki and other communities and warn them to stay away from the Kuki community. We support the ongoing peace process initiated by the government and any organizations here … The path of HTF in using violent tactics is beyond reproach. Our heart goes out to the victims of the recent spate of violence on the behest of HTF and their supporting organizations. Such conduct is unacceptable to us and we assure that we do not support such activities. We also assure that no member of the Kuki community was involved in such barbaric activities and Kukis will not be involved in such activities in future also. We respect the law of the land and the Constitution of India. We are looking for a settlement of the grievances of the Kuki community of Assam in general and North Cachar Hills in particular within the constitutional framework and in line with the ongoing peace process. We appreciate the way in which the civil administration in the district, the State Government, security forces which includes civil police, paramilitary and the army are handling the situation in a very fair and judicious manner without committing any atrocity or harassment on the community. We are grateful and will leave no stone unturned to continue the ongoing peace process and will strive for the rights, welfare, development and progress of the Kukis of Assam. Lastly, we shall be approaching the government for a formal dialogue once the ceasefire is firmly in place,” the release concludes.

 

“We respect the law of the land and the Constitution of India. We are looking for a settlement of the grievances of the Kuki community of Assam in general and North Cachar Hills in particular within the constitutional framework and in line with the ongoing peace process.” - KLO/KLA (Assam)

Mention may be made here that the KLO/KLA (Assam) had at the very onset of the recent violence in the Dima Hasao district of Assam condemned the anti-social activities claimed by the HTF and have been conducting meetings with village leaders among the Kukis besides appealing to its own community not to get involved in the violence. They always made their stand clear and declared that none of the cadre of their organization is involved. It can be said that they have come into the mainstream due to the recent violence because of a fear that their own Kuki community might get involved in ethnic violence as all the Kuki communities have experienced the uselessness of ethnic violence in 1991-97 in clashes with the so called militants of Nagalim. Actually, the KLO/KLA Assam and almost all the Kuki underground groups are the outcome of the clash with Nagalim militia. There are approximately 15-16 underground groups among the Kuki tribes. Because arms and ammunition were collected by the community and kept unused when peace returned, those leading the volunteers during that clash formed their own respective groups in every region. Hence, multiple underground groups among the Kukis emerged. Had the government rehabilitated them earlier, this might not have turned into the present situation in which Kuki underground groups abound. At the time of that clash in 1991-92 too, it was the Kuki of this North Cachar Hills district that had made peace and come to an understanding with the Jeme community of this district not to allow the clash in Manipur to spread in this district; thus widespread violence was avoided here that time, too. It was also the Kukis of this district that had established peace and understanding among all during the ethnic violence between Dimasa militants and Hmar militants as well as in between the Dimasa militants and Jeme militants both of which had turned to ethnic violence.

Lalkam Hengna