On the 28th observation of Sahnit Ni, the Kuki’s Black Day today, the Kuki Inpi Manipur accused the successive Central and State Government equally responsible for the alleged Kuki Genocide as it allegedly failed to delivered justice to the victims.
The Kuki’s apex body said that September – Sahnit Ni (Kuki Black Day) is not just a symbolic date for the Kukis, it is a distinctly important date, and it is the darkest date in our history and it is also the date the Kukis around the globe paused to remember and reflect on the horrors of 13th September 1993.
KIM also stated that the mass killing of Kukis by the NSCN-IM and their collaborators in the infamous Kuki Genocide of 1992-1997, is arguably one of the bloodiest genocide in the history of modern India.
While September 13, 2021, marked the 28th Anniversary of the deplorable massacre of our innocent people in Manipur at the hands of the NSCN-IM and their proxy – the Naga Lim Guards, justice is still elusive to date, for all the victims of the ethnic cleansing campaign, whose only crime was that they were Kukis, due to the apathetic attitude of the concerned authorities –State and the Central Government, it added.
KIM also stated that indifference to evil is worse than evil itself while adding that SAHNIT NI is strictly observed in accordance with our Kukis’ sacred customary practice of SAHNIT.
Forty-Eight years after the World said “Never Again” to the horrors of the genocide in response to the Holocaust, the Joupi Massacre took place in Tamenglong District, Manipur, KIM said while adding that the Joupi massacre, were truly scenes from hell, written on the darkest pages of our history – 13 September 1993.
The Joupi carnage was one of unspeakable horror in which 88 innocent Kukis were slaughtered like animals. The unbridled brutality in the Joupi massacre was one of primordial savagery never witnessed or heard before. Another 20 innocent Kukis were also obliterated on that fateful day of September 13, 1993 – 13 villagers from Gelnal (Senapati District, now Kangpokpi ), 4 from Santing (Senapati District, now Kangpokpi) and 3 from Nungthut (Tamenglong) bringing the day’s total head count to 108, it added.
It further said a perfect example of the state administration’s helplessness and paralysis was the September 13 Massacre of the Kukis while adding that the Central and the State Governments then were equally culpable, for their utter failure to protect the lives and the security of the Kukis.
“The failure on the part of successive Central and state governments hitherto, to deliver justice to the victims makes them equally responsible for the same”, it added.
Also read: Kukis in Moreh Observe ‘Black Day’
KIM stated that the NSCN–IM led Kuki Genocide was in complete contravention of the preamble to the Constitution, the Article 21- Right to Life and personal liberty (a fundamental right ) and Article 31 Right to property (a constitutional right), along with the Article 38, Article 39A, Article 142, enshrined in the Constitution of India. The failure on the part of the Union Government to recognize the Kuki Genocide is in complete violation of the UNO Convention on the prevention and punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which it had signed on the 29th of November, 1949.
It also said that the injudicious approach and attitude of the Indian Government towards the killings of thousands of Kukis in the infamy Kuki Genocide of 1992-1997, is clearly reflected in the fact that more than two decades have passed since, but no one has ever been charged or indicted for this sordid crime against humanity while adding that
it is clear that the Kuki Genocide was not initiated and put an end to in one single day and it is very much alive as far as both the Governments at the Centre and the state refuses to acknowledge it, and continues its policy of utter denial.
We are convinced that the denial of a crime constituted the direct continuation of that very crime. Only recognition and condemnation can prevent repetition of such crimes in the future. The lackadaisical attitude adopted by the Central Government raises one very relevant question – Are the Kukis expendable?!, it added.
It stated that on September 13, every year since we honour the memories of precious lives lost, contemplate the incomprehensible wound to our community, mourn for the families broken and scattered, and embraced those who survived the nightmarish ordeal –some of whom are still with us today, continuing to embody extraordinary resilience after all these years. It is indeed painful to remember. It is human nature to want to leave the past behind. But in order to prevent tragedy like the 13th September, 1993, we must share the truth of this dark and deplorable period with each generation, it added.
Today, we stand on the threshold of the 28th anniversary of the Kuki Genocide. This can afford the perpetrators – the NSCN (IM) a good chance to repent, and to set aside the historical stigma in case if they make efforts to set free their organization from this heavy blood-stained burden, if further added.
KIM said that 28 years is short or long depending on where you stand but there is no justification for false moral equivalence while adding that the passage of time should not obscure the facts, lessen responsibility, or turn victims into villains.
Earlier, the Kuki Inpi Manipur had issued guidelines for the community to follow as to how the 13th September (Black Day/Sahnit Ni) should be observed this year.
On this 28th Anniversary of Sahnit Ni/ Kuki Black Day, We, the Kukis, renew our pledge today that – we will continue to solemnly observe Sahnit Ni/ Kuki Black Day–Remembrance Day, as we have been doing for the preceding years, KIM stated.
It also said that we will continue to pay our respects and tributes to the victims, both dead and living, and salute the unbreakable spirit of our people to which we owe the survival and the renewal of our community/of our nation.
While stating that we will continue to cry out and be the voices of our brethren who were brutally killed, KIM stated that we will continue our fight against injustice and oppression with a renewed fervour and resolve, and we will continue to do so with a religious fervour until justice is duly served to the victims of the Kuki Genocide.
KIM also reportedly submit a lengthy memorandum to the Prime Minister on the occasion of the 28th Sahnit Ni, the Kuki’s Black Day.
(The Hills Journal)
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