Latest news with #Zomi
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur's Kuki-Zo groups set condition for talks
Kuki-Zo organisations of conflict-scarred Manipur have decided not to engage with the Centre or its representatives until 'substantive political dialogue' with the armed groups is resumed. The MLAs of the State and the leaders of civil society organisations (CSOs) and extremist groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement converged in Guwahati on Friday (May 16, 2025) to discuss options for the return of normalcy in Manipur. 'We resolved that until the resumption of substantive political dialogue by the Government of India with the SoO groups, the CSOs and elected representatives shall no longer engage with the Government of India or its representatives,' read a joint statement. The Centre inked the SoO with more than 20 extremist groups of the Kuki and Zomi people in 2005. They have been accused of being involved in the conflict with the Meiteis.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra meets Meitei and Kuki-Zo representatives in Manipur
The Bharatiya Janata Party's Northeast in-charge Sambit Patra met former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, BJP legislators in the valley and hills and Kuki-Zo and Zomi civil society organisations in the northeastern State on Monday (May 5, 2025). Mr. Patra's visit comes days after 21 Manipur Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to form a 'popular government' in the State which was placed under President's rule on February 13. Speaking to The Hindu, Vumsuan Naulak, President of the Zomi Council, who met Mr. Patra in Churachandpur, said that the latter conveyed that as long as thousands of illicit arms remain in the hands of civilians not under any authority's control, 'they do not feel any urgency in installing a popular ministry.' As many as 6,020 weapons and lakhs of ammunition were looted from police armouries after ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and the Meitei people erupted in the State on May 3, 2023. So far, around 3,000 police weapons have been recovered, one-third of the recoveries were made after President's Rule kicked in. 'I am not sure if this visit was to explore if government could be formed or not. I told him that the dialogue process with compatible organisations in the valley such as the Meitei Leepun, Arambai Tenggol and the COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity) should begin. We do not want to speak to any youth club, we want to speak to people who are in the real between civil societies who are actually in the field,' Mr. Naulak said. Arambai Tenggol, an armed Meitei group has gained prominence in the aftermath of the violence. On April 4, the Kuki-Zo and Meitei civil society groups met for the first time at a meeting organised by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi. The meeting was attended by 15 representatives from the Kuki-Zo Council, Zomi Council, Federation of Civil Societies (FOCS) and All Manipur United Clubs Org (AMUCO) and was chaired by A.K Mishra, Adviser (North East), MHA. Mr. Naulak said that he also urged Mr. Patra to resume the talks between the Home Ministry and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups who are in a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Centre since 2008. Mr. Patra met former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at the latter's residence in Imphal where some BJP MLAs were also present. He also met Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh at his residence in Bamon Leikai and interacted with other MLAs at a city hotel. 'We discussed ways to restore peace in the hills and the valley. We also talked about the role of security forces. He (Patra) listened to us patiently and assured that our concerns will be notified to the authorities,' party MLA Kh. Ibomcha told reporters. BJP MLA Sapam Kunjakeshwor added: 'The discussions were mostly focused on law and order, and restoration of peace and normalcy. There was, however, no discussion on the recent letter by 21 MLAs to PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah about formation of government in Manipur.' Earlier in the day, Mr. Patra met two Kuki Zo MLAs – Vungzagin Valte, who had survived a mob attack on May 4, 2023, and L.M. Khaute in Churachandpur district. (With PTI inputs)
NDTV
03-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Manipur Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Ethnic Clashes With Mass Gatherings
Imphal/Churachandpur: A statewide shutdown and mass gatherings marked the second anniversary of the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki and Zomi tribes of Manipur on Saturday, amid demands for free and safe movement of all residents, and a separate administrative arrangement. Shutdowns, observed in both the Meitei-dominant Imphal valley and the Kuki-Zo-dominated hill districts, brought life to a grinding halt across the state. While the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) enforced the shutdown in the valley, the Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) and the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) led similar actions in the hill areas. In the state capital Imphal, COCOMI organised a public convention at Khuman Lampak Stadium, where speakers urged the central government to ensure the "free and safe movement" of all residents in the state. Christened the 'Manipur People's Convention', it adopted a resolution accusing the Centre of failing in its responsibilities and called for an immediate and time-bound roadmap to restore peace and normalcy. "The People's Convention demands that the Government of India formally accept responsibility for its role in perpetuating the crisis and immediately initiate a comprehensive, time-bound roadmap for the restoration of peace, law and order, and a secure environment for all communities in Manipur," it stated. The convention also condemned the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with militant groups like the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF), claiming these units received "safe havens, financial backing, and logistical support" under the guise of the pact since 2008. The resolution emphasised that Manipur's territorial integrity must not be compromised. "Under no circumstance shall the territorial integrity, historical identity, and political unity of Manipur be compromised. Any attempt, external or internal, to divide or disintegrate the state will be firmly and collectively opposed by the people of Manipur," it added. It also urged the Centre to address illegal immigration, alleging that many individuals have settled in the state using forged documents. In Churachandpur, thousands of Kuki-Zo residents gathered at the 'Wall of Remembrance' in Tuibuong to observe 'Separation Day', marking their community's continuing demand for a separate administrative arrangement. The day was marked by memorial events, musical tributes, and the distribution of compensation to 127 victims by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights. Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson for the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), said: "Until and unless our demands for a separate administration in the form of Union Territory is granted, we will continue to fight for justice." Lenminlal Gangte, vice-president of KSO Churachandpur, added that peace cannot be set as a precondition for resolving the conflict with the Meiteis. Another memorial event took place at the Sehken Village burial site, where MLA LM Khaute advocated for political autonomy, again in the form of a Union Territory.
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.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Day We Get Settlement...": Kuki Militants' Umbrella Body Spokesperson On Manipur's Territorial Integrity
New Delhi: The spokesperson of an umbrella body of 17 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur has expressed hope in achieving separation from the state while it is under the President's rule. Seilen Haokip, the spokesperson of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), also explained the nuances of the words "territorial integrity of Manipur" as mentioned in the ground rules of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement. "... There is no apprehension about the role of SoO and political demand being diminished in any way," Mr Haokip said in response to a question on political unity during a 'Space' session on X on April 27. "In fact, President's rule is a time when the state government has been put on an animated suspension. And this is the time we can move forward if we are united and allow the government to take its course of action. So, this is a good time for us," Mr Haokip said. "Because earlier, whenever in the last two years, for instance, the government tried to initiate their commitment with the SoO groups, somehow or the other the chief minister would cause problems in some places to divert the process of SoO talks. Now, we have that out of the way," Mr Haokip said, referring to former chief minister N Biren Singh, who belongs to the Meitei community and who the Kuki tribes hold responsible for the outbreak of ethnic hostilities. The former chief minister has refuted the allegations. He maintains his government's actions such as crackdown on illegal immigrants, illegal opium poppy cultivation, and forest encroachers were not aimed at any particular community. "But, as I mentioned earlier, the problem I have encountered is more of our internal issues, namely over nomenclature or in terms of discounting SoO in ways that they think are true. On that count I have stated in numerous places, name one thing that the SoO have done that is counter to our political demands? Have we ever compromised, have we ever reneged on any of the points of commitments? No. So, I hope that response will completely dispel any notion of disunity in that respect or any kind of waning in terms of engagement," Mr Haokip said. Twenty-five insurgent groups of the Kuki, Zomi and Hmar tribes come under two umbrella organisations for the purpose of negotiations with India - the KNO, of which Mr Haokip is the spokesperson, and the United People's Front (UPF) led by the Zomi Revolutionary Army. The KNO is led by the Kuki National Army. The KNO representing 17 armed groups and the UPF representing eight armed groups signed the tripartite SoO agreement with the Centre and the state government as part of wider political talks. They had been negotiating for a territorial council, until the demand changed to complete separation from Manipur after the breakout of ethnic clashes two years ago. The valley-dominant Meiteis are against the division of Manipur, while the Kuki tribes in southern Manipur's hill districts and some areas in the northern parts want a separate administration or 'Kukiland' carved out from Manipur. To a question for clarity on the mention of "territorial integrity of Manipur" in the SoO agreement, Mr Haokip said the issue of Manipur's territorial integrity will no longer be applicable after the Kuki tribes get the political solution they have been seeking. "Territorial integrity was a clause inserted by the government of Manipur at a time - if you want to categorise it - pre-3rd May, the preceding years. And at that point our demand was for a territorial council. So there is no contradiction in terms where you have territorial council and territorial integrity because TC [territorial council] was to be within Manipur," Mr Haokip said in the 'Space' session on X, where he also took questions. "It was a clause that was disliked immensely, but technically there was no contradiction because the territorial council was to be within Manipur. However, post 3rd May, things have changed, there has been a paradigm shift. The clause territorial integrity does not make any meaning to us anymore. It is irrelevant to us anymore. But technically, it is still there in the preamble of the SoO ground rules, not in the political dialogue platform," Mr Haokip said. There are two distinct platforms - SoO, which refers to the ground rules; there, the Constitution of India is in the first paragraph of the preamble, and secondly, the state government had inserted the territorial integrity clause, Mr Haokip said. "Post 3rd May, until we have settlement for the SoO preamble section, that [territorial integrity clause] will remain. It will remain in the sense... Let me try to explain - post 3rd May, the assertion of the terms Lamka and Kangui has gained momentum. However, until we have a settlement, the official terms will still be Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. And that will be the same with respect to the territorial integrity clause. The day we have our settlement, automatically the territorial integrity element will be irrelevant, of no consequence, and we will have the right to officially call Lamka town Lamka, and Kangpokpi district Kangui," Mr Haokip said. While Meitei civil society groups have alleged SoO group insurgents of taking part in the Manipur violence under the guise of 'village volunteers', the Kuki tribes have pointed back at Meitei insurgents who they claimed returned from conflict-hit Myanmar to attack Kuki villages. The first time the Manipur Police said they found evidence of SoO group and Meitei insurgents involved in the fighting was in September 2024, when they recovered five bodies in Jiribam district following a gunfight. Three were confirmed as insurgents of the SoO signatory Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) from Churachandpur district; the fourth was a Kuki volunteer from Jiribam, and the fifth was identified as a member of the Meitei insurgent group United National Liberation Front (Pambei), or UNLF(P), which signed a ceasefire with the Centre and the state in November 2023 - the first and oldest Meitei insurgent group to sign a ceasefire. There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes under the Kuki community, including 'Any Kuki Tribes', have killed over 260 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000. The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.
