The camp is located near Natheljang village in the koubru Range, under Kangpokpi police station.
The KNF cadres formally handed over various type of weapons to personnel of 59 Mountain Brigade after which the weapons were deposited inside a separate enclosure within the camp premises.
prior to depositing the weapons, the 59 mountain Brigade personnel enlisted minute details of each and every cadre in pre-prepared forms.
Entries in the form included name of the cadre along with photo, name of parents, address, rank as well as type and registration number of the weapon/s.
After the weapons were kept inside the said enclosure, the small house was locked with one key handed over to Kangpokpi police personnel and the other to the KNF.
The event was held in the presence of Kangpokpi ADC chairman Seipu, Commander of the 59 Mountain Brigade Brig Anil Chauhan and other rank officers, SP (Senapati) Nishit K Ujjwal and Officer in-charge of Kangpokpi police station.
Addressing the KNF cadres during a parade that preceded the weapon-deposit, Brig Anil Chauhan explained that handing over of weapons should not be construed as surrendering the arms for the very ceremony is a component of suspension of operation agreement that envisions restoration of peace and welfare for the Kuki public.
Later speaking to newspersons at the designated camp, Anil Chauhan described handing over of weapons by the KNF cadres, the first since signing of SoO with UPF and KNO , as a historic event and expressed confidence of more such positive development in the near future.
He also confided that security aspect of the desig- nated camp would be the prerogative of the KNF organisation, the number of security strength would be worked out after consultation with members of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG).
While noting inevitability of security protection of JMG members/leaders, the Commander further explained that it would be considered breach of SoO agreement if and whenever party attempts or breaks the lock.
In his comment, KNF general secretary aaron Kipgen highlighted that for the last 23 years, the Front had been sustaining movement for formation of Kuki Land.
He said handing over of weapons by the KNF cadres today is the first step towards achieving the che- rished goal through political dialogue.
Declaring that hill areas of Manipur are not under the ambit of the State Government, Aaron also asserted that there is specific location for establishing Kukiland within an outlined map.
He further stated that inspite of presence of Kuki inhabited locations in Imphal areas, there will be no demand for inclusion under Kukiland if considerate inappropriate.
The KNF leader also exuded confidence that with the formal handing of weapon, process for political dialogue would be completed within four months.
~ TSE
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KNF deposits arms and ammunitions in armoury
Hueiyen News Service
Imphal | Sept 15: With the countdown to the last date of deposition of all arms and ammunitions by the Kuki militants, signatory of the tripartite suspension of operation (SoO) agreement, the Kuki National Front (KNF), an umbrella organisation Kuki National Organisation (KNO) deposited all arms and ammunition in the armoury of their designated camp today.
With the deposition of their arms and ammunitions, KNF became the first outfit to implement the tripartite agreement signed last month.
The deposition of arms and ammunitions in the armoury at their Camp Ebenezer at Sadar Hill was witnessed by Brigadier Anil Chauhan, commander of 57th Mountain Division and other high ranking officers of the army and other security force establishments.A total of 150 cadres of the outfit have far been verified and recognized as cadres of the KNF by the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) of the SoO. The arms with ammunitions have been kept under double lock in the armoury at Camp Ebenezer. The key of one of the padlocks will be in the custody of Kangpokpi Police while the other one will be withe the KNF.
Before deposition of the arms, verification of the arms submitted by the cadres was conducted by the security forces under the supervision of brigadier Anil Chauhan. Details of each arm was entered in a registrater.
Speaking to media persons, KNF general secretary, Ayon Kipgen said the cadres have entered the designated camp to bring a political solution to the Kuki freedom struggle. This act should be treated as an end to the struggle of the outfit.
Ayon expressed hope that other Kuki outfits will follow suit and they are keeping a high hope in the sincerity of the Central government in bringing a settlement through political dialogue.
In reply to a question from reporters, he said that government is not treating hill areas of the state as part of the state. Since an early period, hill people have been protecting their lands themselves. They are demanding a separate state for the Kuki in the hill area. They have prepared an outline sketch map for the land to be included within the Kukiland, they are demanding. It will be displayed at a convenient time.
Brigadier, Anil Chauhan said that the signing of the SoO was a step towards bringing a resolution to the conflict. The deposition of arms and ammunitions of KNF is part of the implementation of the agreement of the SoO and Army is only helping in the implementation of the agreement. KNF has paved the way for other outfits, signatories of the SoO agreement and hoped they too would deposit their arms and ammunition, he added.
Nishit Utjawal, SP Senapati district was among other state police officer who attended the arms deposition function.
Mention may be made that on August 22, the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) was extended by 45 days with an agreement that cadres of all outfits which were signatories of the agreement, would enter their designated camps opened at different places and to deposit their arms to be kept under double lock by September 20. The arms were to be kept in the camp armoury or with the nominated Police/SFs.
~ Hueiyen Lanpao
