Kuki-Zo people need Separate Secretariat in interim, says ITLF; Condemns FIR against its leader

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Saturday strongly condemned the FIR against its General Secretary Muan Tombing for his comments on a self-governing body for Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur.

Stating that the charges of sedition and conspiring to wage war against the Indian government are totally baseless, the tribal forum asserted that a separate administration from the Meitei government has always been the demand of the Kuki-Zo people since the start of the conflict in May, and it has also made it clear that any political solution should come under the Constitution of India.

In its statement of condemnation, the Spokesperson of ITLF, Ginza Vualzong mentioned that police cases were also earlier filed against ITLF's chairman and spokesperson in an attempt to silence the voice of the tribal movement.

Asking why the Kuki-Zo people are adamant with their demand for separation, Ginza Vualzong said innocent Kuki-Zo civilians were butchered in Meitei- dominated areas including the capital, and those that survived have been chased out with no possibility of going back. "We have been called illegal immigrants, and Meitei civil societies declared war on us. The state government and police have openly sided with the Meitei community, with commandos leading attacks on tribal villages", he said.

ITLF spokesperson also said even NGOs in the field of development, aided by the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, were trying to siphon off funds meant for tribal development. In the most recent case on October 23, the CM requested Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to approve six projects worth over crores of rupees to the Meitei NGOs based in Imphal. None of them worked for tribal welfare, he said; adding that the State's education minister told a Meitei activist that he would remove a chapter on "The Kuki" from school books, an obvious attempt to erase tribal history.

"Tribal government employees and our MLAs can no longer reach Imphal and are unable to perform their duties for their constituencies," Ginza said.

Meanwhile, the ITLF leader alleged that the Kuki-Zo people have not received any help from the state government; even central government aid like food and other essential items are routed through neighbouring Mizoram state as Meitei mobs do not allow any material to reach tribal areas. The tribals no longer have access to the highway linking them to the country's rail corridor and the airport.

As the Kuki-Zo people do not know when the centre government will complete the mechanisms for a separate administration, the ITLF said the people need a "separate secretariat" in the interim so that their government servants and lawmakers can continue working for their people.