My dear Kuki Students of KSO, Nagaland.
First of all I thank you for inviting me to attend at your 25th General Conference which is to be held at Bongkolong village on 4th—6th February 2011. But I am deeply regretted and tender apology for my inability to attend due to my bad health. But I hope you will surely pardon me for this.
My dear Kuki students, kindly allow me to say a few words though I am not presence here physically.
The world that we are living in is constantly changing without a single stop and along with that every nation and people is also changing their political, economy and social status. No one can stop this because this is the nature of our world today. Let us look around the world and watch the changing of the world. Where is that mighty USSR today? It is gone and it won’t come back again. Once the sleeping lion—China is rising up and started threatening the world super power, USA. Some experts predicted that after 2020 China would become world super power.
We the Kuki people have to go down to the ground reality and search our future. We should not live in illusion and confusion. One thing we much acknowledge or accept is that apart from living with our Naga brothers, Kukis do not have our future. The wisdom of our fathers should not be discarded easily. When we were small and scattered our fathers had taken the right decision for our people. So they formed Kuki Tribal Union (KTU) in the early 60s with the understanding of Naga brothers and joined in NNC. Many had died while discharging their duties and many are still alive. Many Kukis thought that Nagas would drive away other peoples including the Kukis, who are now living in Naga territory after attaining their independence. This is wrong. This is not Nagas politics. I personally met with the Collective Leadership of NSCN and many senior leaders and discussed the future our people with the Nagas. They assured the Kukis that if we fight together with our adversaries as a people and share the burden while struggling for our freedom, we will live together as a people. There is no different between Nagas and Kukis. Under their able leadership the KTU was once again re-affirmed and allowed us to work hand in hand with NSCN and established our head office in Council Headquarters, Hebron.
Today, there are many scholars, intellectuals and academicians in Kuki society who do not think seriously for the future of our people. Some had shown the seeds of hatred between Nagas and Kukis and some are still campaigning against the Nagas. It would be our suicidal. Let us not forget the saying of the wise, “Where there is no vision the people perish”. Our people those who are living in the so-called Manipur state are still siding with the non-Christian Meiteis and fight against our brother Nagas. Nagas and Kukis have two common things though we are from different community. Firstly, we are Christians, and secondly we are hill people. What do we have common things with the Meiteis? They are Hindus and plain people.
Funny things are happening there in Manipur with our Kuki brothers. Many Kuki militant groups who are claiming to be the fighters for Kuki homeland are openly declared that they would firmly stand for the territorial integrity of Manipur before having even a single round of talk when arriving at an agreement--SOO (Suspension of Operation) with the Government of Manipur. Where will they establish Kuki homeland? Inside the Kangla? The whole world is laughing at us.
Therefore, let us be realistic while dealing with the future of our people. Kukis and Nagas may have many bitter events in the past but we can forgive and forget each other in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ and become one family, because we are all His children. The Saviour and Forgiver Jesus said on the cross before He gave up his Saul, ‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they do’. Pu Lengjang Kholhou had written our history with the Nagas and had given his signature in the memorandum submitted to Sir Simon Commission with our brother Nagas in 1929. His wisdom will prevail.
Long live KSO!
Long live NSCN!
Long live Kuki-Naga brotherhood!
Kuknalim!.
( L.H. Paohao)
President
Kuki Tribal Union (KTU)
National Socialist Council Of Nagalim
