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New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Manipur remembers victims on second anniversary of ethnic conflict
GUWAHATI: Manipur remembered the victims of the bloody ethnic conflict on its second anniversary on Saturday by organising different programmes in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki hills. People observed a shutdown in the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley responding to the call of an organisation, 'Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity' (COCOMI) to attend a public convention. A similar shutdown was observed in the Kuki hills at the call of two Kuki-Zo student organisations. COCOMI organised the public convention at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, where a large number of people turned up. The speakers, including scholars, eminent personalities and leaders of civil society organisations, called for peace, justice, resolution of the conflict and protection of the state's territorial integrity. The Kuki-Zo tribals marked the day as 'Separation Day.' The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum organised a programme at the 'Wall of Remembrance' in Churachandpur district in memory of the victims. A large number of people, including leaders from various civil society organisations, attended the event. The Kukis had raised pitch for 'separate administration' for the community following the outbreak of the ethnic violence and they have stuck to this demand. Security was tightened in different parts of the state. However, no untoward incident was reported. The ethnic violence had erupted on May 3, 2023, after a solidarity march which was taken out in the hill districts by tribals protesting the state government's alleged move to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community.
NDTV
03-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Protests By Kuki, Meitei Groups Mark 2 Years Of Manipur Ethnic violence
New Delhi: Members of the Kuki and Zomi tribes and the Meitei community held separate demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday to mark the completion of two years since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Dressed in black, the Kuki protesters mourned the loss of those killed in the violence and reiterated their demand for a separate administration for their community. The protest was organised by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki-Zo Women's Forum, Delhi (KZWFD). The protesters raised their demands, including the creation of a separate administrative set-up for the Kuki tribes due to their concerns about safety, displacement and lack of justice. "We have been asking the government to give us a solution, let us live a normal life like people in any other state," said Gladdy Vaipay Honjan, a Kuki activist in Delhi. She said the community continues to suffer even after two years, with no justice for the violence, displacements and destruction. The protesters observed a moment of silence for those killed and displaced, and held placards that read, "Freedom's call: Separate administration" and "No justice, no peace". The Meitei protesters, dressed in white, gathered under the banner of the Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee. They demanded justice, rehabilitation and a safe return of all internally-displaced persons to their original homes. Their demands included ending cross-border terrorism, withdrawal of support to armed groups under the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement and the removal of buffer zones dividing communities. RK Khaidasana, a Meitei protester from Churachandpur in Manipur, shared his experience of the crisis. "Since May 3, 2023, I have been displaced from my home and I want to go back and resettle. I urge the government to give us justice," he said. "Around 4:30 pm (On May 3, 2023), violence broke out in our area, houses were set on fire and people fled for safety," he added. Both groups emphasised the need for a long-term solution to the ongoing ethnic tensions in the northeastern state. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands left homeless in the violence between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur since May 2023. The valley-dominant Meitei community and over a dozen distinct tribes collectively known as Kukis, who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, have been fighting over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation. Over 260 have died in the violence and nearly 50,000 have been internally displaced.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur ethnic conflict: Security heightened ahead of second anniversary
Security in Manipur has been heightened amid calls for a shutdown to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that broke out on May 3, 2023. Security personnel intensified patrolling in the 'buffer zone' – the foothills around the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley – and frisking of vehicles in vulnerable locations in the valley as well as in the adjoining Churachandpur and Kangpokpi hill districts dominated by the Kuki-Zo people. 'Separation Day' At least two students' organisations belonging to the Kuki-Zo group of tribes called for a shutdown of all educational institutions, shops, and commercial establishments on Saturday (May 3, 2025), which an apex tribal organisation said would be observed as 'Separation Day'. 'The event will be a day of reflection and remembrance for the victims of the ethnic conflict that has deeply impacted the Kuki-Zo communities. It will feature a series of programmes, including prayers and exhortations for the victims and their families,' the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum said. The Kuki-Zo community has been demanding a separate administration as the 'only solution' to the ethnic conflict that has claimed more than 250 lives and displaced about 60,000 people. People's convention In the Imphal Valley, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity will organise a people's convention where civil society organisation leaders, scholars, eminent personalities, and internally displaced people will deliver speeches. A candlelight tribute will be paid to the victims of the conflict. 'Peace Day' The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), an apex body of the Thadou community that resents being clubbed as Kuki, has appealed to the people of the State to collectively observe May 3 as 'Peace Day' every year, instead of creating 'antagonistic' and 'communal' vibes. 'As we observe May 3 this year and pray for peace, we honour the memory of those who have fallen victims to the tragic violence and extend our deepest empathy to the survivors and their families,' the TIM said in a statement. 'Although being the most affected yet silenced victims of the two-year-old violence, the Thadou community has shown a remarkable resilience in advocating for peace through mutual understanding and respect among all indigenous communities who call Manipur home,' the organisation said. Divided State The ethnic conflict erupted after tribals took out a solidarity march to protest the Manipur government's alleged move toward granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis. The Kuki-Zo and the Meitei people have stayed apart since, unable to go into each other's areas. On March 8, the Centre tried to ensure 'free movement' on the State's two arterial highways, but opposition from the Kuki-Zos made it an exercise in futility. The highways, connecting the Imphal Valley to the country beyond, pass through Kuki-Zo areas. The attempt to open the highways came a month after Nongthombam Biren Singh stepped down as the Chief Minister on February 9, a day before his government was to face a no-trust motion and a floor test in the 60-member Assembly. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to reach a consensus on his successor, leading to the imposition of the President's Rule in the State on February 13. A few days ago, 21 MLAs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the immediate installation of a 'popular government' in Manipur. They said there had been no visible actions to restore peace and normalcy under the President's Rule.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur tribal body to observe May 3 as ‘Separation Day'
GUWAHATI: A tribal organisation catering to Kuki-Zo aspirations has called for observing May 3 as 'Separation Day' to mark 'two years of total separation from the Meitei community' in Manipur. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) said the solemn day would be observed at the Wall of Remembrance for the Kuki-Zo people killed in the ethnic conflict that broke out on May 3, 2023. It said the wall in Churachandpur district's Tuibuong stands as a symbol of collective grief, resilience, and unity. 'The event will be a day of reflection and remembrance for the victims of the ethnic conflict that has deeply impacted the Kuki-Zo communities. It will feature a series of programmes, including prayers and exhortations for the victims and their families, a keynote address, organisational reports, and speeches by various tribal leaders,' the ITLF said in a statement on Wednesday (April 23, 2025). It added that a significant part of the event will be the 'Jangnadopna' ceremony, a traditional condolence ritual to honour those who lost their lives during the conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. 'There will be no shutdown on the day. However, traffic movement will be restricted in and around the Wall of Remembrance to ensure the sanctity and smooth conduct of the programme,' the ITLF said, appealing to all sections of the community to participate in the event. More than 250 people were killed and some 60,000 were displaced in Manipur since May 2023. Although the State has been relatively peaceful after the imposition of the President's Rule on February 13, the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have either avoided or have been barred from travelling to each other's territories.
