Kuki-Zo Council Appeals to Manipur Governor for Union Territory Amid Ongoing Ethnic Turmoil
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Imphal, January 7 (NationPress) The Kuki-Zo Council, the foremost authority and political representative for the Kuki-Zo tribal population, on Tuesday urged Manipur's Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to initiate the deployment of neutral central security forces to manage the ongoing ethnic crisis, while strongly advocating for the establishment of a Union Territory.
This Council, comprising 13 organizations representing the Kuki-Zo tribal community, emphasized their request for a Union Territory with a legislature dedicated to tribal affairs.
During Governor Bhalla's first visit to the Churachandpur district headquarters, council leaders met with him and presented a memorandum that included demands for preserving the integrity of the buffer zones separating the hill and valley regions, as well as the re-demarcation of district police jurisdictions.
The memorandum highlighted a lack of improvement in the security landscape, noting that after more than a year and a half of violence and displacement, residents still confront daily threats to their lives.
“One-and-a-half years after the outbreak of violence, homes and properties belonging to the Kuki-Zo community continue to be set ablaze and ravaged. To date, nearly 7,000 homes have been destroyed, over 220 lives lost, more than 360 places of worship have been devastated, and approximately 40,000 individuals have been rendered homeless,” the memorandum stated.
The Kuki-Zo Council informed the Governor that “as a minority group with limited numbers and even fewer resources for self-defense, we face persistent threats from militant factions such as Arambai Tenggol and the banned UNLF, who possess access to extensive weaponry procured from across the border or stolen from state armories.”
The memorandum, endorsed by Council Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet and General Secretary Reverend Dr. VL Nghakthang, asserted: “Our only path to survival hinges on a political resolution for the Kuki-Zo community, which necessitates complete separation from the Manipur government and the Meitei populace.”
They remarked that with the hills and valleys already divided, the final step is administrative separation.
“Only after achieving this separation will peace be attainable. We urge you to recognize our dire situation, act promptly on our issues, and endorse our aspiration for a distinct administration in the form of a Union Territory with legislative powers under Article 239 (A) of the Indian Constitution,” the memorandum concluded.
The Kuki-Zo Council leaders warmly welcomed the new Governor at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Hall in Churachandpur.
The Council expressed congratulations to Bhalla on his appointment as the Governor of Manipur and acknowledged the Central government for selecting its most senior officer for this role.
During his initial visit after taking office on January 3, the Governor toured Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts on Tuesday. He urged leaders from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to collaborate with the administration on peace-building initiatives.
Bhalla also visited several relief camps in the two districts, engaging with displaced individuals who have sought refuge there since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023.
