Strategically timed to coincide with the commencement of the 18th Lok Sabha Parliamentary Session, the Kuki-Zo community in the strife-torn Manipur hills, aiming to draw the attention of the first Parliamentary Session under the Modi 3.0 Government, organized a significant "Non-Violence Mass Rally" today, conveying the community's demands for an expedited resolution to the Kuki-Zo Political Solution.
The peaceful demonstration underscores the community's desire for a non-violent approach to address their political concerns and seek support from the national legislative body.
The Mass Rally in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District, was organized under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District, following a unanimous decision adopted in a joint meeting of all CSOs in Sadar Hills, including tribe-based civil bodies and Inpis, on June 22.
The mass rally kicked off at Nute Kailhang in downtown Kangpokpi and proceeded towards DC Office Kangpokpi via the National Highway 2 with the rallyists holding placards which read, "End the Delay: Secure Kuki-Zo's Future Now", "No More Waiting: Fast-Track Kuki-Zo's Political Solution", "Time for Change: Expedite the Kuki-Zo Political Solution Now", "Justice for Kuki-Zo, Expedite the Political Solution", etc.
A three hour total shutdown was also imposed in the entire Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All Government offices and institutions, including banks, private institutions and business establishments were closed during the total shutdown while vehicular movement was also restricted.
However, students appearing for their semester examinations, media personnel, and emergency services were exempted from the purview of the total shutdown.
Dr. Rev. Satkai Chongloi delivered a message for the Separate Administration movement before the rally, led by CoTU's Women Wing, kicked off from Nute Kailhang.
A five-page memorandum was submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi by leaders of CoTU and various other Kuki-Zo CSO leaders at the DC office in Kangpokpi.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), in its Memorandum, has drawn attention to the enduring hardships faced by the Kuki-Zo community due to relentless atrocities and subjugation by the majoritarian community in Manipur over the past 14 months while expressing deep appreciation to the Union Home Minister for initiating renewed efforts to address the ongoing crisis in the state.
While rekindling the nation and the Union Home Minister's awareness of the significant contributions of the Kuki-Zo to India's nation-building efforts, CoTU highlighted the Kuki-Zo's historical resistance against the Imperialist Britishers during the Anglo-Kuki War from 1917 to 1919. CoTU also proudly noted the Kuki-Zo participation alongside Subhas Chandra Bose in the Indian National Army (INA), where the majority of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation were Kuki-Zo from the North Eastern contingent.
However, to our dismay, our patriotism towards our mother India has been challenged time and again. Efforts are being made to completely erase us from the history books, as evidenced by the present genocide pogrom aimed at annihilating us from the state of Manipur by the majoritarian community. Unlike other deprived communities, the Kuki-Zo have never challenged the Union Government of India to concede to our demands for any political solution but have been consistently belittled by successive state governments and across the political spectrum, it stated.
The infamous incident of violence on May 3, 2023, engineered and orchestrated to annihilate the entire Kuki-Zo community from the soils of India, was inconceivable and unacceptable to the voiceless minority. The Kuki-Zo had to defend their Right to Live with Dignity and have sustained this effort for the past 14 months against relentless physical aggression in their land and villages by the secessionist Meitei terrorist groups (VBIGs) and civil militants (Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun). The inaction of the incumbent state government to prevent such extremism against the Kuki-Zo minority has led to the demand for Separate Administration to liberate themselves from the oppression and subjugation by the Meitei majoritarian-led biased state administration, CoTU further stated.
Drawing the attention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the plight of the Kuki-Zo community, CoTU beseeches the immediate expedition of the long-pending political solution for the Kuki-Zo in the form of a Union Territory (UT) with a legislature, as envisaged under Article 239(A) of the Constitution of India. This includes considering security aspects, streamlining all Kuki-Zo Village Volunteer Forces into a proper military unit (e.g., Kuki-Zo Regiment), and addressing health care, economy, education, and employment.
Considering the present situation, CoTU also urged the Union Home Minister to table their demands in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament so that the Kuki-Zo in Sadar Hills Kangpokpi (Kanggui), Tengnoupal (Moreh), Chandel, and Churachandpur (Lamka) can live free from subjugation and oppression.
It also urged the Union Home Minister's office to recognize that forced assimilation between communities in the Northeastern parts of the country would be a grave political miscalculation if the idea of one nation is to fructify.
It stated that the tribes in the Northeast are not a homogeneous race; they differ in all aspects of life, including culture, tradition, custom, language, and especially administration. The Kuki-Zo have a distinct administrative system known as the Chieftainship Institutions, which is not well understood by many, including the Government of India.
The Kukis were historically known as a tribe of "Small Republics" who have willingly accepted governance solely by the Union of India and nothing less. Therefore, the demand for Separate Administration in the form of a Union Territory with a legislature by the minority Kuki-Zo community is well justified. The majority-led administration of Manipur has failed to uphold our faith and confidence in the institutions. Only the Union Government can ensure the revival of our trust in the democratic system of governance in the country, CoTU's memorandum stated.
Similarly, thousands of protesters from the Kuki-Zo tribal community marched through the streets in Lamka (Churachandpur) on Monday demanding a political solution to end the yearlong ethnic violence in Manipur.
The rally, organized by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), kicked off at Lamka Public Ground in the center of town at 11 am and ended at the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial for almost 200 tribals killed during the violence.
Protesters held placards like “No Political Solution, No Peace”, “Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo People Right Now!”, “Forced Union With Meiteis Will Not Last”, and “We Want UT Under Article 239A”.
ITLF Chairman Pagin Haokip delivered the keynote address at the rally. Other speakers include MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Zo United Secretary Rev. VL Ngakthang, Zomi Council General Secretary Pauneihlal and Kuki Inpi Manipur Vice President Jangmang Haokip, ITLF General Secretary Muan
Tombing read out the content of the memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The peaceful rally was organized to demand that the central government expedite the process of finding a political solution to the violence in Manipur.
"Tribals want the creation of a Union Territory with legislature under article 239A of the constitution", stated ITLF.
Similar rallies were also held in Tengnoupal and Pherzawl districts.
ITLF, an umbrella group for tribal bodies, stated that the government should accelerate the process of finding a political solution considering the following points.
Firstly, after more than a year of killings and displacements, there is no improvement in the security situation, with citizens at risk of being killed every day. In the past few weeks, two tribals were killed by Meitei miscreants in Jiribam district. Another was abducted, and his whereabouts are still unknown.
Secondly, homes and properties of tribals are still being burned and destroyed, one year after the start of the conflict. To date, almost 200 tribals have been killed and more than 7,000 homes destroyed. In the recent flare up of violence in Jiribam, around 50 homes and shops belonging to tribals were burned down.
Thirdly, for more than a year, supplies of all goods, including essential items, have been blocked from entering tribal areas. Even basic hospital items like cotton swabs often run out. This has severely affected the quality of life for tribals.
Fourthly, all development activities, including maintenance and repair of public infrastructure, have grinded to a halt for the past year in tribal areas, while all Meitei-controlled valley areas enjoy state patronage.
Fifthly, the valley-based population even resorts to destroying public utilities like electricity, denying us our basic rights.
Sixthly, with tribals unable to travel to the state capital, the Meitei-controlled state government is using the opportunity to conduct mass job recruitment, knowing fully well that tribals will not be able to avail themselves of the opportunity. Many job opportunities have already been lost for tribal youths, showing that the state government is openly partisan.
Seventhly, tribal students have also been adversely affected, especially those in technical lines, as all major centers of learning and all head offices are located in the capital.
Eighth, as a minority community with fewer numbers and even fewer resources to protect ourselves, we are under constant threat of being attacked by militant groups like Arambai Tenggol and the proscribed UNLF, who have access to a large arsenal of weapons bought from across the border or looted from state armories. They have openly stated that their aim is to either kill all of us or drive us out of our lands.
The rally was concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Union Home Minister
through the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur, Manipur by ITLF leaders led by the Chairman and General Secretary.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
