The Black Day observance at Kangpokpi brought all business establishment and educational institutions as well as Govt. administration completely to a stand-still.
Every households in the town hoisted black flags and everyone were seen clad with black cloths while daily activities were suspended even though vehicular movement was witnessed with black flags fixed in all the vehicles.
Early in the morning every church held mass prayer for the victims’ family.
At noon many people mostly women clad with black clothes gathered at the memorial site where a monument had been erected last year in front of Inspection Bungalow, Kangpokpi to mourn and pay homage to the victims listed in the monument.
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills General Secretary N. Sehjalien Gangte lamented that on September 13 in 1993 more than 100 innocent Kukis were mercilessly killed which remained the highest number of Kukis killed in a single day, in the NSCN (IM) ethnic cleansing in Manipur.
The Black Day is observed on September 13 every year in memory of the innocent Kukis killed on this day in 1993 and on other days during the tumultuous period of the ethnic clash continued Gangte.
While referring the Kukis as peace loving people the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills General Secretary further said that the observation is not against anyone but to commemorate and mourn the victims and also to pressure the government in taking specific measures to deliver justice to all the victims as well as compensate and resettle the displaced Kuki villagers.
A candle light service was also held at the memorial site later in the evening at 6 O’clock under the leadership of Kangpokpi Town Churches Fellowship where a mass prayer was held.
The Kuki Black Day was also observed at Gelnal along the Imphal-Tamenglong road in the presence of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills President Seikhomang Khongsai where after a prayer session, people observed two minutes' silence in honour of the ethnic clash victims.
Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills President Seikhomang Khongsai said that the commemorative function is being organized to restore peace, unity and integrity among different communities of Manipur, particularly between Nagas and Kukis.
While urging other communities not to interpret the observance in the wrong sense, the KISH supremo prayed that such painful, ugly incidents should not recur in future.
The Black Day was also observed at Laikot in Sadar Hills in remembrance of the 106 innocent men, women and children murdered on September 13, 1993.
During the observance various CSOs leaders, Church leaders and elders spoke on the need for reconciliation and restoration of peace and normalcy in the State where they also prayed for the departed souls.
In the meantime, Kangpokpi Town Committee Secretary Haokholun Chongloi said that the term Kuki-Naga ethnic clash used by some people is totally wrong before adding that it was a coordinated attack on the innocent Kukis, including small children and women, by the NSCN (IM).
Source: Imphal Free Press
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