Mandalay: The Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) has vehemently denied allegations from the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) that they were responsible for the death of Lieutenant Sentilong Jamir, a resident of Nagaland, India. In a strongly worded statement, KNA-B condemned the accusations as baseless and designed to incite violence between the Ao community in Nagaland and the Kuki community.
The controversy began with a condolence message from NSCN-IM on May 23, 2024, which accused KNA-B of killing Lieutenant Jamir during the recent Operation Myothit. KNA-B clarified that the operation, conducted between May 7 and May 11, 2024, was a joint effort under the command of the Democratic Alliance Army and included forces from both KNA-B and the People’s Defense Force (PDF).
“During intense battlefield engagements, it is impossible to identify individual opponents unless they surrender or are captured. Our fight is to reinstate democratic principles in Myanmar, and we respect the lives of our opponents,” KNA-B stated, emphasizing that many from the military junta had surrendered to them during the operation.
KNA-B urged the people of Nagaland not to be swayed by NSCN-IM’s “cheap propaganda” and to maintain peace and harmony. The statement highlighted the turmoil in Myanmar following the February 1, 2021, coup by the military junta, which has led to widespread violence and a severe humanitarian crisis.
“We are committed to restoring democracy in Myanmar and have no involvement in the violence in Manipur,” KNA-B asserted, responding to repeated accusations from NSCN-IM that they were collaborating with the Indian army to incite violence in the region.
KNA-B also pointed out the activities of Manipur-based militant groups such as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in Myanmar, accusing them of working against the pro-democracy movement and committing various human rights abuses.
In a conciliatory gesture, KNA-B expressed condolences to Lieutenant Jamir’s family if he had indeed fallen during Operation Myothit, reaffirming that they held no personal animosity towards him or any NSCN-IM members. They called on NSCN-IM to support the NSCN-Hanshi group, which aligns with the pro-democracy efforts in Myanmar, instead of the military junta.
KNA-B concluded by appealing to the Naga community and the general public in India to stay vigilant against misinformation and continue supporting the democratic cause in Myanmar. They expressed gratitude for international humanitarian assistance and reiterated their commitment to humanitarian principles and the fight for democracy.
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