Thousands of members from the Kuki-Zo community organised a nationwide rally, demanding a separate administration. The rally was held across multiple cities, demonstrating the community's strong desire for administrative independence.
People marched in 9 towns, cities and 17 different villages across the country today during a nationwide rally to demand a separate administration for Kuki-Zo kindred tribes in Manipur.
In Lamka (Churachandpur), the rally began from Lamka Public Ground passing through Tipaimukh Road, IB Road, Tiddim Road and culminated at the “Wall of Remembrance Site” in Tuibong. The rally was organized under the aegis of Zo United, a parent body of CSOs for all Kuki-Zo kindred Tribes in Manipur.
People denounced the Manipur state government and held placards like “Separate administration is the only solution”, “Metei government, down, down”, “Tribal area, tribal government” and “No solution, no rest.”
Speaking to media at the sideline of the rally, Zo United Convenor Albert Renthlei said the rally was being held to speed up the process for the demand of separate administration.
On being asked about the Centre’s response to the demand for Separate Administration, the Zo United Convenor said, "Our demand have been submitted to the Centre in written a few months back, however, there has been no response from the government till now. As such, we are organizing a nationwide rally today to press the centre for early materialisation of our demand."
He asked: "How long we will continue to suffer amidst the atrocity committed against us?"
The Kuki-Zo kindred family have endured seven months of ethnic cleansing attack by the majority Meiteis, who control the government, and the Kuki-Zo kindred family has borne the brunt of the violence with 203 villages totally burnt down, more than 7000 house burnt down to ashes, 152 souls have lost lives and more than 50,000 displaced, he said.
“The majoritarian policies of the Biren Singh government led to tensions and a complete breakdown of trust between the Meiteis and the tribals. This eventually led to the outbreak of the violence,”.
“We have been butchered and chased out of the capital and the valley areas. Radical are publicly saying they will not stop until they chase us all out of Manipur. There is no longer any hope for Kuki-Zo kindred tribes to live a dignified life in a state controlled by the Meitei community. A separate administration is the only option for us,” Albert said.
Further, the Zo United also highlighted a list of issues which coerced them to seek for 'separate administration'.
The tribal organisation claimed that Kuki-Zo kindred tribes have been chased out of the capital and the prosperous valley areas with no possibility of going back.
All major government and private learning Centres –technical institutions, hospitals, offices and the state’s only airport - all are located in Imphal and are now inaccessible to the tribes.
Slamming the Biren Singh-led government, the Zo United asserted that the Meitei-controlled state government and police have openly sided with the majority community, with commandos leading attacks on tribal villages.
Also, the tribal body claimed that thousands of government-issued weapons and lakhs of ammunition were handed over to the Meitei population in Imphal and nearby areas and these are being used to hunt and kill tribals. Groups like Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and COCOMI have publicly declared that they will not rest until they kill everyone from the Kuki-Zo kindred tribes or chase all out of Manipur.
Zo United also submitted a memorandum addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Deputy Commissioner Churachandpur.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
