Apropos to Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh's statement, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex body of the Kuki Tribes, has clarified that "there are no peace talks between the Kuki-Zo people and the Meiteis."
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Information and Publicity Secretary of Kuki apex body, Janghaolun Haokip said, "The Kuki Inpi Manipur is utterly taken aback by the supposed 'Peace Talks' held between the Kuki-Zo representatives and the Meiteis.
He clarified that the Kuki Inpi has no knowledge of any "Peace Talk" held between the Kuki-Zo people and the Meiteis as mentioned by the Manipur Chief Minister N.Biren Singh.
In sharp contrast, the Kuki Inpi Manipur reiterated that it would remain committed in its resolve for a political boycott of the Manipur state government for orchestrating and perpetrating the persecution against the Kuki-Zo people.
"The Manipur state government continues to utilise government machinery in its ruthless campaign against our people inflicting untold damage. On that account, a supposed 'Peace Talk' between the Kuki-Zo people and the Meitei can only be termed as overly optimistic," said KIM.
The Kuki-Zo apex body also stated that its people, who have been victims of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign of the Manipur state government, cannot negotiate with their oppressors for justice and equality for Kuki-Zo people.
To that matter, a demand for Union Territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people has long been forwarded to the Government of India for constitutional course of action and the Kuki-Zo people is only resolute to commit to the same until its fulfilment, it stated.
The statement also asserted that the demand for the Union territory is legitimate as the only means for equality and justice for the Kuki-Zo people and the safe-guarding of their rights and privileges as equal citizens of the country.
"Furthermore, any supposed peace talk or political negotiation without the knowledge of the Kuki Inpi and its constituent organisations, is only illusionary," said the Kuki-Zo apex body, adding that the Kuki Inpi and its constituent organisations are the only legitimate bodies to manoeuvre a way forward for the Kuki-Zo people.
