Kuki Apex Body Debunks Meiteis' False Propaganda on Jiribam violence; Calls for Swift Political Settlement

The Kuki Inpi has deemed it unsurprising that the Chief Minister and the Meitei leadership have once again toiled to spread false propagandas and fabricated truths about the recent developments in Jiribam district between the Meitei-Kuki communities since 6th June 2024.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Kuki apex body stated that the Kuki-Meitei peace pact in Jiribam, that have been sustained by the Kuki-Zo people of Jiribam with stringent efforts despite challenges from several corners, was laid to waste when the Meiteis set three to four Kuki homes on fire because of the death of one Soibam Saratkumar Singh (59) in Mulargaon area in Jiribam.

The Kuki Inpi recalled how, on 18th May, 2024, one Seigoulen Singson (21), S/o Seikholet Singson of Phaitol Village, Tamenglong was killed and later found floating in Jiri River. Nonetheless, the Kuki CSOs of Jiribam honored the peace pact and subsequently took every precautionary measure against possible outbreak of violence and had patiently entrusted the law enforcing agencies for further investigation to sustain peace in Jiribam, it said.

However, despite the self-explanatory nature of the Meiteis causing the conflict in Jiribam in an utter disregard for the Peace Pact, the Kuki Inpi stated that the blatant accusation of the Kukis was indicative of the indifference and arrogance of the Meitei leadership towards constitutional and moral principles in its persecution of the minority Kukis. Moreover, the burning of homes and the attack of Kuki people without an iota of evidence or procedural investigations solely indicates the conspiracy hatched by N Biren Singh-led government to deter peace efforts and engineer violence in Jiribam district.

It said, "The year long Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict is a persecution of the minority Kuki-Zo tribals by the N. Biren Singh's government."

In sharp contrast to the treatment meted out to the displaced Meitei community, the Kuki-Zo tribals of Jiribam haven't received any sort of relief assistance from the government till date and the attention given to the victims is never the same. Moreover, the ambush of VBIGs near K Sinam Village along NH-37 that was audaciously claimed by N Biren Singh as an ambush of his advance team explains the conspiracy of Meitei Terror groups with the Manipur state government in the persecution against the Kukis.

Information and Publicity Secretary of Kuki Inpi Manipur, Janghaolun Haokip said the whole episode of Jiribam violence was a classic example of how the Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict started on 3rd May 2023. "It is a well-programmed action of the communal Manipur government led by N.Biren Singh and his private militia viz. Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun and the Valley Based Insurgent Group (VBIGs)," he said.

"It is irrefutable that the persecution of the Kukis call for swift political settlement to safeguard the rights and dignity of the Kuki-Zo people against the unrestrained persecution by the Manipur state government," Haokip added.