The winds of change linger around in Imphal but the pungent and stale state of the city remains the same. Seasons have changed over time but the hearts of the Kuki-Zo people remain broken as new atrocities emerge now and then. The continuous exploitation of the Kuki-Zo people has reached a point where even the most basic human rights of the people are being neglected.
Month after month, day after day the atrocities continue like a never-ending thriller saga. Still, the only difference is that it is not fiction but something real and tangible and is currently happening incessantly.
The recent videos of two Village Volunteers being brutally killed, abused, and butchered into pieces in the most barbaric way have left everyone with chills running down their spines. Our kin, blood, and brethren being subjugated to the most inhumane and gut-wrenching and sadistic torture even after their deaths brings us throbbing pain. The complete act of disdain that has been given to the Kuki-Zo people where we are considered lower than livestock by killing our brethren, butchering them in the goriest way, cutting them from limb to limb, dragging their bodies, carrying their dead bodies in trucks like wild animals that were hunted and finally placing the headless, limbless torso in the street for the public to see while the womenfolk of the Meitei community stood as they jeered on like savages have left us in shock and awe as to how heartless and feral one can be.
Even after the videos surfaced all over the internet, the blissful ignorance of the government has been the biggest betrayal we could feel not only as citizens of one the biggest democracies with one of the strongest judiciary that claims to ensure justice for every citizen but also has fellow humans that have the same basic rights to live as well as right to dignity like everyone else.
The shock continues as New Lambulane, the only standing Kuki-Zo locality left in Imphal was looted in broad daylight just a few days after the videos of the two Volunteers being killed got posted on the internet. The looting of the houses continued peacefully as the police stood in silence whilst the masses happily and unitedly scoured through the houses. It was evident that even family members were cooperatively taking part in the treasure hunt in the houses that were left behind unwillingly and painfully by the Kuki-Zo residents as they were chased away on the 3rd of May, 2023. The scenes were indeed painful as well as laughable as we see mother and daughters happily carrying study tables together, aunties carrying mattresses and blankets, and young ladies carrying mats with Tupperware containers. There was even a clip from the video that looked like a scene from a strongman competition where a man was carrying a refrigerator all by himself. These were scenes that were evident from the video that was taken in broad daylight. The main thought to ponder upon is what the police were doing while these illegal activities were taking place. Or have we normalised looting and killing anyone for it to be justified on the grounds of whether or not the person belongs to a different tribe or community? How long will the country continue to ignore the problems as well as the grave situation that the Kuki-Zo community has been relentlessly facing since the 3rd of May last year?
The war crimes that have been committed have become so brutal, inhumane, and sadistic that words cannot even comprehend the pain and suffering not just physically but mentally and emotionally that is being constantly burdened upon the Kuki-Zo people.
After all these horrible, obscene, and repugnant war crimes that are committed, the question of justice remains a far yet wistful hope.
At this point, it feels very evident that the justice system does not work in favor of people who are being brutally oppressed. How long will we continue to wait for the whole country to take notice of the pain and pleas?
It is unfair and outright unjust for the Kuki Zo community to continuously get the receiving end of the prejudiced and bigoted temperament of the government and its inability to bring an end to this conflict that has gone too far too long.
As we are nearing nearly one year since the conflict erupted, the empty promises of bringing peace or solution seem to be vaporising into the summer wind as every minute passes.
The constant prayers of the mothers, fathers, and children have become the only hope that binds the faith and will of the Kuki-Zo people together.
As the saying goes, “Justice should not only be done but it should be seen to be done” The people of the Kuki-Zo earnestly urge for justice to be done upon the continuing atrocities and transgressions that have been committed upon them to date. We demand our human rights to be acknowledged and taken seriously. We demand justice against the butchering and the looting of our basic human rights. Until justice prevails we shall continue to fight with unabating fury for our voices to be heard, for our suppression to end, and for our pleas and prayers to come to fruition.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
