Imphal, November 5: The Kuki Liberation Army–Letkholun (KLA-L), has strongly objected to what it calls a “mischaracterization” by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, labeling the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) as “terrorists.”
In a press statement the KLA-L said, “The UKNA is a group of sons of the soil demanding a separate administration within their ancestral land in Manipur, a legitimate right enshrined in the Constitution of India.” The group described the government’s labeling as “factually inaccurate, legally untenable, and violative of fundamental human rights.”
The KLA-L stated that “there is no evidence to suggest that they have initiated attacks on the Indian Army. Instead, they have taken up arms to protect their loved ones and ancestral land, which the Indian Army has failed to safeguard from violence and threats.” The statement went on to call the “terrorist” tag “a gross misrepresentation that undermines their legitimate grievances and rights,” adding that “this characterization is beyond the bounds of human rights and military rules of engagement laws, which emphasize the protection of civilians and the distinction between combatants and non-combatants.”
Condemning the alleged killings of UKNA personnel, the KLA-L said, “Reports indicate that the armed men were killed while asleep, rendering them defenseless and hors de combat. Such cowardice displayed in taking out unarmed or sleeping individuals is tantamount to extrajudicial killings, reprehensible and unacceptable.” The group termed the act “a grave breach of international humanitarian law and human rights norms.”
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The KLA-L demanded that “the Indian Army retract this misleading characterization and engage in a constructive dialogue with the representatives of the sons of the soil to address their legitimate demands for a separate administration within their ancestral land.” It further called for “a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings,” and insisted that “those responsible for any violations of military protocol and human rights must be held accountable.”
The statement concluded by affirming that “the rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination and protection of their land must be respected and upheld in accordance with the Constitution of India and international human rights standards.” It warned that “until then, the Indian Army’s actions will be viewed with suspicion and skepticism.”