Hundreds of Kuki-Zo community members gathered at Gamgiphai today to voice their strong opposition to what they believe is another attempt by the state government to breach buffer zones by ferrying passengers through the MST bus service. This gathering represents a significant show of resistance as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
The protest is in response to the alleged attempt by the Manipur government to use the MST bus to transport passengers along National Highway 2, passing through Kangpokpi, an area dominated by the Kuki-Zo community. The community views this move as provocative and sees it as part of a broader effort to forcefully normalize the situation without considering the political implications or the impact on the security of the minority Kuki-Zo community.
This is not the first time the Kuki-Zo people have stood up against such attempts. On December 24, 2023, the government’s plan to take the MST bus along the same route was successfully foiled by the Kuki-Zo community. Additionally, two similar attempts by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to push through Kangpokpi via National Highway 2 were also met with strong opposition.
At Gamgiphai, CoTU Spokesperson Ng. Lun Kipgen, flanked by hundreds of protesting Kuki-Zo women, stated that the periodic attempts by the incumbent Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, to breach the buffer zones into areas dominated by the Kuki-Zo community in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi, are vehemently decried and opposed by the Kuki-Zo people. He emphasized that these actions are a clear indication of efforts to disrupt the already fragile peace in the region.
Kipgen continued, saying that the forced normalization of volatile situations and the bulldozed peace initiative by the current administration in the valley, at the expense of the security of the minority Kuki-Zo community, is a preposterous political approach. He stressed that such a policy risks replicating incidents like that of Jiribam elsewhere, which must be avoided at all costs.
It has also come to light that the majority-led administration is insistent on enforcing the thoroughfare of the Meitei community—a warring faction—into Kuki-Zo territory. This marks the regrettable third attempt to do so, he asserted.
Reiterating the community's strong opposition, Kipgen stated that, in accordance with the collective decision of all civil society organizations of Sadar Hills, the Kuki-Zo community will never accept the bulldozed peace imposed by the State Government or any other agency.
The Kuki-Zo people also urge the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene politically in the matter, rather than through the use of security forces.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
