The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has called upon the leadership of the Kuki CSOs to rein in their extremist elements and to engage in honest, transparent conversations aimed at resolving differences through political means rather than through violence. There are concerted attempts by certain Kuki elements to politically and geographically isolate the Tangkhul community. We reject this isolation strategy. An attack on the Tangkhul Nagas is an attack on the Naga people.
The press statement issued by the GNF stated that “the Global Naga Forum (GNF) expresses its strong and unequivocal condemnation of the heinous ambush and killing of two innocent Tangkhul Naga civilians along NH-202 near TM Kasom, Ukhrul, widely acknowledged as the handiwork of Kuki terrorists.
“In addition, based on multiple ground reports and eyewitness accounts, there is growing concern regarding the free movement and activities of Kuki SoO militant cadres in close proximity to Naga villages such as Sinakeithei, Thoyee, Sharkaphung, and TM Kasom. It has been observed that nearby Kuki villages including Mongkot-Chepu, Shangkhai, Zalenbung, Songphel, and Mollen are allegedly being used as operational bases by these armed groups, who are reportedly in possession of sophisticated weapons despite the presence of substantial central security forces in the region.
“Further, there is increasing apprehension that the monthly stipend of ₹6,000 provided to each cadre under the SoO arrangement is being misused by certain Kuki militant groups for the procurement of arms and ammunition. Reports indicating that the State Home Commissioner has proposed the release of over ₹30 crore towards stipend expenditure for Kuki SoO cadres to the Ministry of Home Affairs have only deepened these concerns.
“In light of these developments, we strongly urge both the Central and State Governments to ensure strict enforcement of the SoO ground rules. Any violations must be dealt with firmly and without delay. If it is established that these groups are exploiting the SoO arrangement to target innocent Naga civilians, it becomes both necessary and justified to consider the abrogation of the SoO agreement with the concerned Kuki groups, particularly the KNO.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and express our unwavering solidarity with the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) and the people of Ukhrul District during this time of immense sorrow. This premeditated and targeted attack on unarmed civilians is a grave crime against humanity and is a direct attempt to instill fear among Nagas and to destroy the fabric of peace in the Naga homeland.
“We note with deep concern a troubling narrative emerging in the wake of this and other recent incidents, and therefore categorically state that these clashes in the Tangkhul-majority areas are not a localized or isolated dispute confined solely between the Kukis and the Tangkhuls. On the contrary, it is a stark manifestation of a broader conflict of interest between the Nagas and the Kukis at large, which, if left unresolved, will lead to tragic consequences.
“There are concerted attempts by certain Kuki elements to politically and geographically isolate the Tangkhul community, seeking to portray this as a peripheral, two-party issue rather than a symptom of the larger, unresolved political and territorial friction that exists between the Naga and Kuki communities across multiple states. We reject this isolation strategy. An attack on the Tangkhul Nagas is an attack on the Naga people. The blood of the Tangkhul people binds them inextricably to the collective struggle and identity of all Nagas. The Global Naga Forum stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them, recognizing that the challenges faced in Ukhrul today are a microcosm of the challenges faced by Nagas across the historical Naga areas.
“While we reserve the right of our communities to safeguard our ancestral lands and lives by whatever means necessary, the Global Naga Forum steadfastly believes that the path to lasting peace and justice does not lie in the barrel of a gun. We make a fervent appeal for the immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.
“We call upon the leadership of the Kuki CSOs to rein in their extremist elements and to engage in honest, transparent conversations aimed at resolving differences through political means rather than through violence. The cycle of retaliation will only serve to scar the land and orphan future generations. We believe that peaceful coexistence is achievable if based on mutual respect and a clear understanding of historical boundaries. The State and Central governments must also intervene meaningfully, not simply with armed security forces, whose neutrality has become highly suspect but through impartial mediation that addresses the root causes of this unrest” added the statement issued by the Media Cell Of Global Naga Forum (GNF)
