Kangpokpi: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki tribes, issued a stern rejoinder to the Government of Manipur’s recent press release, terming it as a despicable argument and a misleading propaganda.
The government’s statement, a response to an editorial in The Hindu titled “Lame excuse: On Manipur and the ethnic conflict,” was dismissed by KIM as an attempt to defame the Kuki-Zo community and incite further violence.
It also stated that the editorial’s critique of the Biren Singh government’s failure to rise above ethnic tensions and its call for new approaches and leadership to restore peace not only supports the view of a neutral observer but also highlights the state government’s discriminatory stance towards the Kuki-Zo tribal minority.
It also highlighted that the unsigned press release from the Manipur Government is filled with falsehoods, likely the reason for its anonymity.
The Kuki Inpi also expressed its compulsion to refute the alleged “outrageous claims and arguments” as they felt it directly concerned the rights and dignity of the Kuki-Zo people.
Over the claim that “the situation in Manipur is under control, and peace has been restored”, the Kuki Inpi Manipur stated that in fact, the situation in Manipur is far from under control as the Kuki-Zo people continue to endure systemic violence and discrimination.
“Over 41,425 Kuki-Zo individuals have been displaced, 185 Kuki-Zo people have been killed, and more than 200 Kuki-Zo villages have been burned. There are no genuine efforts for peace, no concrete steps for relief, while tensions continue to remain at a
boiling point,” it said.
On the claim that “the government has taken all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of all communities”, KIM stated that the government’s actions have been biased and grossly inadequate.
“Thousands of looted automatic weapons and lakhs of ammunition are still being used by Meitei fundamentalists with impunity in targeting Kuki-Zo civilians, while the state government has been reduced to meekly requesting the looters to return such weapons without any result. Such incompetency and lack of action on the part of both the CM and state security forces are inexplicable,” it said.
They claimed that the administration has failed miserably to protect the Kuki-Zo people from targeted violence by Meitei fundamentalists and insurgent groups like the PLA, UNLF, Arambai Tenggol, and Meitei Leepun.
“The allegations of bias and partiality in the government’s response are unfounded and politically motivated”, KIM stated. They alleged that CM Biren, along with his allied organisations like Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and Meitei insurgent groups such as the PLA and UNLF, are primarily responsible for inciting and perpetuating violence against the Kuki-Zo people.
Over the claim that “efforts have been made to facilitate reconciliation and dialogue among different communities”, KIM stated that the so-called efforts for reconciliation have been superficial and insincere.
“Rhetoric on reconciliation without addressing the root causes of violence and injustice only perpetuates the vitiated atmosphere. The Kuki-Zo people demand justice and a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory with the legislature to ensure their safety, security, and rights as equal citizens, rather than empty promises of reconciliation,” it said.
Another claim that “Mushrooming of ‘as many as 996 new villages’ in Manipur as a result of years of illegal immigration which went unchecked and undetected”, KIM highlighted that this narrative, concocted by the Chief Minister, is baseless and aims to justify actions against the Kuki-Zo people.
Additionally, on the claim that “Illegal immigrants objected to the Government’s effort to detect illegal immigration”, KIM stated that this statement is another blatant lie as no illegal immigrants have objected to the Government’s drives.
As the government claimed that “5,457 illegal immigrants have been detected in Kamjong”, KIM stated that the Chief Minister’s selective use of data is misleading and dishonest. “Most of the detected individuals, 3,866 out of 5,457, are from other tribal villages, not Kuki-Zo villages. This selective targeting aims to stigmatize the Kuki-Zo people further, exposing the Chief Minister’s deceitful tactics. The targeting of Kuki-Zo people with such figures amidst prejudice-laced legal measures illustrates the ecosystem of hate fostered by the Chief Minister,” KIM said.
Further, over the claim that “The Chief Minister refers to the 1972 number of MLAs to suggest a massive influx of Kukis”, KIM stated that the Chief Minister’s selective reference to the 1972 Assembly elections is misleading.
As for the claim that “Massive influx of illegal immigrants in 1962 & 1988”, KIM pointed out that these allegations are fabrications. Kuki-Zo people expelled from Burma during the “Khadawmi Operation, 1967” were Indian citizens resettled by the Government of India among existing Kuki-Zo villages. The Chief Minister’s attempts to label them as refugees are misguided. The targeting of Kuki-Zo Indians while ignoring other displaced groups is unjust and hypocritical.
Tenth, over the claim that “The Kuki-Zo community is involved in extensive poppy cultivation”, KIM responded that the Chief Minister fails to mention the destruction of poppy cultivation in areas dominated by other ethnicities. While Kuki-Zo farmers are exploited by Meitei cartels for poppy cultivation, the processing, supply, logistics, and profits are controlled by Meitei cartels based in Imphal. This selective targeting of Kuki-Zo farmers while protecting Meitei drug lords highlights the Chief Minister’s hypocrisy and corruption.
KIM stated that the official release wrongly blames the Kuki-Zo people for the misdeeds of the Meitei regime while adding that this strategy justifies the government’s dehumanising and discriminatory policies, hides its role in the ethnic conflict and protects those responsible for heinous crimes against humanity.
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KIM also stated that to curb violence, Chief Minister Biren Singh must stop spreading fake news and misinformation while urging the Government of India to take action against such false assertions and dehumanizing propaganda.
KIM further stated that the Kuki-Zo people will continue to fight against discrimination and persecution, demanding justice, safety, and recognition of their rights as equal citizens while asserting that the creation of a Union Territory with legislative powers is the only solution for lasting peace and stability in the region.
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