Kuki Human Rights Body Calls Out Government Bias, Demands Justice for Kuki-Zo People Amid Ongoing Ethnic Violence

The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has issued a strong statement condemning the Union Government’s discriminatory enforcement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) across Manipur, alleging a deliberate bias against the Kuki-Zo people. The organization has raised concerns over the selective imposition of the act, which notably excludes jurisdiction over 13 police stations predominantly inhabited by the Meitei community, thereby raising alarms about systemic injustice and government bias.

KOHUR claims that the government’s actions reflect a pattern of favoritism towards the Meitei community, exacerbating the ongoing ethnic violence in the region. This comes on the heels of disturbing developments, including the recent looting of over 6,000 automatic rifles and 5 lakh rounds of ammunition from state armories, an incident that KOHUR believes directly threatens the security of the Kuki-Zo people.

Furthermore, KOHUR has called attention to the involvement of militant groups like Arambai Tenggol and Meitei militant factions in a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Kuki-Zo population. Despite evidence of their involvement, the organization alleges these groups have enjoyed protection and impunity from the government. KOHUR also emphasizes that the government’s failure to take decisive action has allowed these groups to act with impunity, hindering any attempts at peace and justice for the Kuki-Zo community.

The ongoing violence has had devastating consequences for the Kuki-Zo people, with more than 226 deaths recorded, over 200 villages burned, and thousands of homes and religious structures destroyed. KOHUR reports that over 41,000 people have been forcibly displaced from their homes, and incidents of violence such as rape, murder, and arson remain unaddressed, with no arrests made for these heinous crimes.

In addition, the organization highlights the tragic stories of civilians killed by security forces and the failure to prosecute those responsible for the looting of state armories, further pointing to the government's neglect of its duty to ensure justice and accountability. KOHUR argues that the Union Government’s silence in the face of these atrocities is a deliberate act of shielding the perpetrators of the violence, with the government’s preferential treatment of the Meitei community exacerbating the suffering of the Kuki-Zo people.

The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust has issued a clear demand for transparency, accountability, and a fair approach from the government toward all ethnic minorities. The organization asserts that the world is watching, and history will hold accountable those responsible for these crimes against humanity. The Kuki-Zo people, KOHUR stresses, will not remain silent in the face of continued oppression.

KOHUR statement concluded with a call to action, urging both national and international communities to take notice of the systematic oppression being carried out and to support the fight for justice and human rights for the Kuki-Zo people.