Unforgettable day, June 24, 1997 | Tualgal Theihgigena: SAMPAS KUTT

By Johnson Jest Guite

Ei Zomite'n i tuah masakna leh khanlohna dak hon khentu ZOMI-KUKI gal ahi hi. Zomi pasal pha sawmte Saikul khua a Kuki helpawl khat in dated 24th June 1997 nitak dak 8:30pm vel in kaplum uhi. Hiai hun pen phawk detna leh theihgige na ding in, a sisan uleh a hinna uh Zosuante a dia a piakni uh SAMPAS KUTT chi in Saikul khua a mite'n kumteng in a na kizang zel hi. Sampas Kutt kichi tuh *SAikul Mi PAsal Sawm KUki Te Thahni* chihna ahi hi. Hiai hun pen khangsawn te'n a theihnop na di chia, a lak tom a gennei leh chihnop dia C. Pumzathang in a na phuah ahi hi. Dated 24th June 1997, Sepnawnni nitak khomui kuan in Kuki helpawl khat Saikul khua hong lut uhi. Sepnawn ni nitak pen tua hun lai Biakinn ah naupang kikhopna a kizang zel leng ahi. Khotaw lam a pan hong paitou in, mihon ban houpih uhi. Biakinn khang a om C. Pumthang te inn a mibang zah  hiam te khawl in kihou khawm ua, a inteknu'n singpi, chini (sugar) T. Khatgin te a thunglak zen in na bawl uhi.

Himahleh, khenkhatte'n dawn in, khenkhatte'n dawn nuamlou uhi. Huai hun sung mah in honkhat in muntuam ah mi honkhat na kaikhawm uhi. Asap ua ut lou in Pumzasiam leh Thangchin na tai (run) uhi. A suak ta a himai uh.

Naupang kikhop dak 7:30 pm lak vel in tawp hi. Huainung in helpawlte heutupa khat uh hong pai in, hong hi vutvut in, a lawmte toh a mikhop khawmte uh thagum (force) in khotawlam a zot suk pih uhi. Khotaw lam a canal kibawl gei ah a pikhawm ua, thudotna tuamtuam a nei uhi. Mi a sapkhawm lai un a khente'n "Hausa te in a kihou khawmding," chi le om uhi. A khente'n, "Hiai khua ah ZRA te leh Naga helpawl (NSCN-IM) te om uh, hon pekhia un," pasal a muh phot kiang ua chi/gen leng om uhi. Himahleh tuabang a a ngette uh Saikul khosung ah kuamah a omkei uhi. A omlou tuh piakkhiak di omlou ahi mai hi.

Helpawl paisuk nanung te'n mi a muhmuh uh papi leh tangval te kaihkhawm beh lai ua, a hawlsuk ua khotaw a canal a tun pih nawn ta uhi. Huchia pasal papi leh tangval te a kaih khawm khit un, a sapkhaklouh uh Pa Kampi lunghimoh leh patauhluat ziak in patau dak vakhen hi. Huaitak in khosung mi bangzah hiamte, biakinn kong a paikhawm in kihouna nei mahle uh, amaute thau tawi a hih jiak un panlak didan theih hituan lou hi. Khosung pumpi helpawl ten fang suak lou uhi.

A kaihkhawm teng uh mi sawm le nga pha hi. Huaiteng avual a ding sak in mi nga lak vel in metres 7 lak vel a kipan in second 5 sung vel di khawng kap uhi.

Thau a a kap ma un torch light in sal masa uhi. Thau ginzoh in papi hangsan T.Pumkhanjam  vavak suk in va tuak hi. A liamte kikou aw toh, papi pasal phate, thangpaih leh patauhna aw ten khosung ahuulum sak mahmah mai hi.

Hiai hun in ahihtheihna lamchiat ah panlak ahi hi. Hiaihun in misawmte kaplup in om ua, mi ngate naktak in liam uhi. A kapte kintak a kihem mang pah uh hi ding ahi. Hiai thiltun jiak in Saikul mipi tengteng buaipet mah in  kibuai jakta hi. Hiai hun a sihna tuak te leh liamna tuakte:-

SIHNA TUAKTE:

1. CHINKHANLIAN 17 s/o Nekzachin

2. TUALKAPTHANG 19 s/o Pausianthang

3. NANGSON 16 s/o (L) Zelzakham

4. LAMZAHAU 24 s/o (L) Vungzalian

5. LIANZACHIN 19 s/o Pauzanang

6. GINSUANLAL 18 s/o (L) Kaizadam

7. KAIZADAM 50 s/o (L) Dongjam

8. KAMKHOPAU 45 s/o (L) Lianzakham

9. KHAMTHANSANG 17 s/o (L) Kamkhopau

10. PAUMINTHANG 31 s/o (L) Lianzakham

ALIAM TE:

1. PUM NO-A s/o Upa. Ngaitunpum

2. PAUKHENMANG s/o (L) Thuampau

3. TUALKHANTHANG s/o (L) Thuampau

4. PAUSUANMUNG s/o Lalsuanthang

5. UPA.JAMKITHANG s/o (L) Tongkhojam

Tua zan in pasal pha sisan luangte silsiang utmah bang in,vuah leng huai nitak in hong chiin juk a, tarpaulin ki jak deidai hi. Huai nitak jaw jan khua a sawt ngai mai. Taikhua vak di kal ngak lah tak in, siluang bul ah mittui luang jungjung kawm in,  a liamte mauna aw, "Ana, tui ka duh" chihte ngaih khiak in om a, bilkha ah thamden lai hi. Tua jingkhua vak dong in akten zong a si suun hileh kilawm in khuang ding don lou uhi.

Hiaibang a thil mulkim huai leh diipkuat huai thil a hong tun in kikep theih dandan a kikep ahi a, damdawi (pain relief) leh bandage khawng a kizang hi. A zan azan in police a report a kibawl a, himahleh a jing dated 25/06/1997 dak 7:30 vel in police Inquiry bawl te ahong pan uhi. Diipkuatna, patauhna lak ah post mortem bawl din puakkhiat in omvek ua, numei naupang bang jah hiam lel khosung a nutsiat in om uhi. Postem bawl zoh chiang a misi hiai jahjah Saikul khote adia a vui haksa ding ahihman in YPA Hq te chialna kibawl hi. Saikul khua puak tun chiang a, misi te a innchiat ua suunnna hun jat lemlou ding ahihman in, Community Hall a ngakvek ding chih ahi. Mihing lunggel dan zaw bangmah ahi kei; Pathian in a hoih jaw ding hon gel sak in thil pai didan teng kileh bulh in, Saikul Community Hall tut malak a, Saikul hanmual a vuikhawm naksang in Zenhang Lamka Community Hall tutin om ua, a hanmual ua khuuk khat a vuikhawm in om uhi. Huai a vui leng hong lemtang jaw maimah a suak hi. Zenhang Lamka YPA te pan lak na thupi i sa mahmah hi.

Misi tengteng vuizoh a hih in, haksa sa tak in innlam zuan in kikikta hi. Ka kisil dia, ka kihahsiang di chih hun om man lou in, "Van poimoh teng hem unla, puanlom zial unla, hiai khang ah gari in hon ngak, delh un!" chih hita jel hi. Khojang khat gari nih a kihenta mai chu aw…. Pau ngaihngam lah omlou in Security ven bitna in Zo Colony, Lamka a Pa Khamkhanpau inn ah puak tun in ki om hi. Hon mangngilh ngeilou mangbat lai a huh pahpah Pa nai gige in hon ma kaih in, Lamka Tung a EBCC ten Sunday school ah giah lut in om nawn hi. Buh leh meh in hon vak uhi. Pathin min phat in om hen. Hiai hun apat in mun tuamtuam ah kitheh dailh in omta hi.

Zomite sisan luang te ziak in minam leh pian pih Zomite hehna kuang zak in ZOMI-KUKI gal kichi hong piang kheta hi. Hiai gal hong kipat khiat na mun, Saikul ah June 24, 1997 a thiltung ziak ahi hi. Hiai ni pen khangsawn te theih detna di leh Saikul khua a dia mang ngei nonlou ding chauh hilou in ,Zomi namte lak a mang ngei nonlou ding in SAMPAS KUTT a na kichita hi.

Sd/-

Johnson

THE KUKI-ZOMI CONFLICT: A SYNOPSIS ROOT CAUSE

1. Having a dream of re-unification of the Kuki-Zomi people, based on the discovery of research scholars of the modern times, this stock of people identify themselves as Zomi – disowning the imposed name Kuki. And the Zomi nomenclature is accepted by the Zous, the Simtes, the Vaipheis, the Paites and the Tedim-Chin tribes, while the Thadou-speaking group of tribes denies it and maintains the term Kuki as their nomenclature.

2. In the event of such dispute in ideology and acceptance of a common nomenclature, the extremist underground factions of the KNF(P) applies criminal force to induce the Zomi tribes to accept the nomenclature Kuki, propounding that the term Zomi is a misnomer.

3. However, in the opinion of the Thdou-Kuki factions like the Kuki National Assembly and the Kuki National Front of the Military Council, they opine that this dispute in the name and style of a nomenclature, is a political gimmick and they do not take a rigid stand in the matter. The Zomis appreciate the accommodative outlook of the KNA and the Thadou-speaking people in the context of identifying the nomenclature as such, as the Thadou-Kukis are beginning to see reason.

4. The difference in political ideology between the KNF(P) and the Zomi people is basically at variance, whereas the political aspirations as propounded by the KNF(P) is confined within the ambit of creation of a Kuki homeland within the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur in India, and not a step further beyond. On the other hand, the Zomis aspire to club all the tribes under its nomenclature – including the Thadou-Kukis to bring about a political revolution and emerge in the status of a nation-hood, and ultimately a Zogam (Zomi-land) incorporating all the Zomis "Under the Sun" within a political fold by revolutionary process. If the issue raised by the disputing parties are seen in their true perspective, they are ONE AND THE SAME supporting each other but the KNF(P) blinded themselves from seeing reason; and political future for their own people. The Zomis, at the same time, have a vision and are striving to realize it by means of reasoning and evolving its accompanying to social, economic, culture and political processes.

It can, therefore, be surmised that the Kukis and the Zomis do not have much difference in their efforts to ushering in a political revolution for their people and race who are one and the same. The only dispute amongst themselves is but acceptance of a comprehensive yet an identical nomenclature. The solution to this terminological imbroglio can best be resolved by appreciating the sentiments of one another, the Kuki and the Zomi proponents. But never by the arms-way.

5. The prevailing ethnic-war between the Thadou-Kuki and the Paite Zomis is the fall-out of this minor disagreement over the nomenclature issue. The KNF(P) was in a hurry for reason known best to themselves, and try to impose it on the Zomis by application of sheer naked force with the only ends to subjugate their fellow tribes against the facts of history and their conviction. This means of criminal force by the KNF(P) is the sole cause of the prevailing conflict – as the Zomis do not take kindly at the approach of the KNF(P) .

PERPETUATION OF THE CONFLICT

6. The riotous situation, which was provoked by the cold-blooded killing at the Saikul village in Churachandpur District, could have been controlled and normalcy of life restored, had it not been for the breach of the agreements deliberately committed by the KNF(P) and their cohorts. For instances:

(a) The first agreement of peace was initiated and evolved by the honourable dignitaries from Mizoram Peace Mission, namely, Pu C. Chawngkunga, Pu H Zathuam and Pu F Lawmkima which was signed by both the competent representatives of the KNF(P) and the ZRO, at the Mata Dam in Churachandpur on the 8th of July, 1997, which was abrogated and foiled by the unprovoked invasion of the Mata village by the KNF(P) on the 10th July, 1997 at about 1:00 AM in the morning. The assault was resisted by the villagers and the security forces posted there.

(b) After a thaw of encounters for a couple of days, the persistent peace workers re-organised a forum for re-affirming the hard-sought peace agreement, and brought the warring camps to another negotiation parley on the 18th July, 1997 as the previous peace agreement was duly re-affirmed accordingly. However, that too, was aborted by the KNF(P) by deliberate acts of aggressions on the villages of Leijangphai, Tallian and Savaipaih in which 13 (thirteen) houses and 3 (three) villages were destroyed, whereby taking undue advantage of battle respites and making them as opportunities for regrouping their fighting forces and for drawing up renewed offensive strategies against the Paite-Zomis.

Thus, and for yet another peace negotiation, everyone is giving a second thought about it.

Issued by: Publicity Wing, Zomi National Volunteers, Manipur Division Headquarters Churachandpur

FINAL PEACE ACCORD BETWEEN ZOMIS AND KUKIS FOR RESTORATION OF PEACE AND NORMALCY

INTRODUCTION: The State High Level Committee headed by Shri W. Nipamacha Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, initiated Peace Process between Kuki and Zomi communities. As instructed by the State Government and as authorised by the conflicting parties, the Zomi Council and Kuki Inpi after every exerted effort on behalf of their represented respective parties pledge to forgive and forget the past mistakes committed against each other. The Zomi Council and Kuki Inpi highly appreciate the State Government for all its official commitments for peace and reconstruction programmes.

*COMPROMISE:* As a token of customary apology for mowing down ten innocent persons and injuring other four persons on the night of the 24th June, 1997, at Saikul Village by the KNF thereby dragging the two communities into conflict, the Kuki Inpi offered a feast by killing a four legged animal, a bull (Bawngtal), on the 29th September, 1998. In a very cordial atmosphere and mutual trust, the feast was happily shared together by leaders of the Kuki Inpi and the Zomi Council. In response to the good gesture shown by the Kuki Inpi, the Zomi Council showed their goodness and love for peace in the form of killing another four legged animal, a pig (Voktal), the following day, the 30th September, 1998, which was happily shared together by both community leaders.

AGREEMENT: 

Both the parties agreed upon the following points:-

1. That, the nomenclatures Kuki and Zomi shall be mutually respected by all Zomis and Kukis. Every individual or group of persons shall be at liberty to call himself or themselves by any name, and the nomenclature KUKI and ZOMI shall not in any way be imposed upon any person or group against his/their will at any point of time.

 

2. That, any person who has occupied or has physical possession of any land/private building/houses and quarters wrongfully and illegally during the period of clashes shall return and restore to the rightful owners, such lands and buildings.

 

3. That, no Kuki or Zomi militant shall indulge themselves in any forcible collection of funds, taxes etc, against their counterpart nomenclature be it from the Government Officials, individuals, contractors, and business establishments.

 

4. That, all points of MoUs between the Kuki Inpi and the Zomi Council shall be operative and binding to all concerned persons and parties including the government.

Signed this 1st October, 1998 on behalf of Kukis and Zomis respectively.

    Sd/-                                                        Sd/-

(ALBERT GEN GOUKHUP MATE )        (K. VUNGZALIAN)

President, Kuki Inpi                         \     Chairman, Zomi Council

Churachandpur, Manipur

KUKI LEH ZOMI KAL BUAINA TOH KISAI A

 EVANGELICAL CONVENTION SAPTUAM PANLAKNA:

Gintak leh lamet louhpi'n Kuki leh Zomi kikal ah buaina lianpi June 24, 1997 akipan a hong piang a, KNF militant te'n Saikul khua ah mi bangmah khelhna neilou 15 khatkhat a samkhia in, dainawl ah kivualsak in thakhat thu in abanban in thau in a kap ua, amun ah mi 7 a sipah ua, mi 8 liamna tuak in District Hospital, Churachandpur ah puaklut in a om ua, tua mi 8 lak ah 3 hun sawtlou in asi nawn ua, hiai buaina kipatna a hong suak hi.

Evangelical Congregational Church of India(ECCI), Executive Committee in hiaibang buaina hong pian ding lauthong in June 22, 1997 in KNF(P) heutute leh ZRA heutute kimuhpihna nei in, Memorandum of Appeal kichi laikhat a pia ua, tua ah hiamgamna suahlou teitei dia ngetna (appeal) leng abawl uhi. Hiai ECCI ah ECC leng vapang ahi. Hiai buaina mi khenkhat in  Kuki leh Paite kikal a buaina bang in gen mah le uh, Paite kia leh Kukite kia in thuak hilou in, Zomi kichi a kiminloh Paite, Simte, Chin leh Vaiphei leh namdang dang in leng buaina tuak uhi.

Hiaibang a buaina hong om ziak in Zomi a kiminloh mite lak ah, mi 100 val in sihna tuak ua, mi 60 sang a tam zaw in liamna tuak uh a, inn 1300 vel kihal mang in van tampi leh inn kangtum hi. Hiai bang a van leh inn kang mangte sum a hisap in Rs 700,00,000/- man bang phatham hi. Pammaih mahmah.

ECC in hiai bang in Buaina sukveng na ding in panla hi. September, 1997 akipan Church Leaders Peace Committee khat a kibawl khia a, tua ah ECC Kumsim khawmpi 49 na a Moderator Upa H. Nengsong, Chairman in pang a, saptuam sik leh tang in mi 4 member in vapang uhi.

Hiai Peace Committee in Santigi Paojel Committee toh kithuah in Buaina sukveng tum in meeting leh seminar leng neikhinta ua, Memorandum of Appeal leng KNF leh ZRA heutute kiangah pekhinta uhi. Tua ah hiamgamna chiteng khawlsan ding in ngetna leng bawl uhi. NEICORD, RCC, EFICOR, CBCNEI, World Visuion, EFI vaisai heutu liante toh Guwahati ah seminar/ meeting December 1 apan 4, 1997 sung nei ua, tua ah kilemna ding a poimoh a sak uh point 12 vel genkhawm ua, huaite lak ah December 15, 1997 akipan a tompen a kha khat sung ceasefire bawlsak ding in ngetna KNF leh ZRA heutute kiangah ngetna pai/bawl uhi.

Tua Heutu tuamtuam ten ah Imphal ah December 10, 1997 ni in houlimna (meeting) neinawn uhi.

Hiaibang in ECC heutute leh saptuam tuamtuam a heutute'n buaina sukveng na ding in pan nasatak in la lellel ua, Pathian panpihna leh makaihna in a baihlam a buaina sukveng a ompah leng kilamen hi.

ECC Kumsim khawmpi 49 na in Buaina toh kisai in a kinlam a sukveng thu Khawmpi proceeding a gelh hileh chih deihhuai sakna a om a, tuabang in memberte'n lemsakna a bawl theih leh bawl hen chih leng ka hon sawm hi.

Sd/-

Upa H. Nengsong

Moderator

Evangelical Convention Church

Kumsim Khawmpi 49na.

(*Views expressed are personal)

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