The Kuki-Zo community across Sadar Hills commemorated “Remembrance Day” on June 3 in Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District to mark the May 3 incident of the alleged mass genocide program against the Kuki-Zo community.
Unlike previous commemorations, Remembrance Day was observed at Martyrs’ Cemetery Phaijang, Sadar Hills by leaders of the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District and a few other prominent Kuki-Zo civil body leaders, while the rest commemorated the day in their respective villages, churches, and areas.
A 12-hour total shutdown was imposed across the entire Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District by the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, halting vehicular movement along National Highway 2 from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All government and private institutions, including educational institutions and business establishments in the district, remained closed for the day.
At 6:00 p.m., a candlelight vigil was held at Martyrs’ Cemetery Phaijang under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, where a mass prayer for the Kuki-Zo martyrs and their bereaved families was also conducted.
Speaking on the sidelines of the solemn event, CoTU’s Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen, said that the Committee is once again constrained to observe ‘Remembrance Day’ today, to mark the May 3rd incident of the mass genocide program against the Kuki-Zo by the radicalized majoritarian Meitei-led state administration.
He recalled that the Kuki-Zo in the entire region commemorated the completion of one year since the infamous May 3rd incident last month, which served as a stark reminder to the nation and the world of the willful disrobing of the basic rights and dignity of the minority Tribals in the country for political exigencies.
“This tantamount to the desecration of the Constitution of India, by the biased administration in the State of Manipur”, he asserted.
He then stated that with the mandate of the Kuki-Zo community, the Committee urged the Central Government to immediately expedite the long-pending political solution for the Kuki-Zo, wherein the Suspension of Operation Groups are negotiating with the Government of India, aiming for long-term peace and stability in the entire northeastern regions of the country.
