Aizawl: Representatives of the Zo community raised concerns over border divisions, displacement, and indigenous rights at the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) held in New York City from April 20 to May 1, 2026.
According to a statement issued by Zo ReUnification Organization (ZORO), Lalnunfela Chawngthu attended the session on behalf of both ZORO and the Zo Indigenous Forum (ZIF).
During the forum, Lalnunfela Chawngthu said the Zo people had been divided without their consent, resulting in long-standing challenges to their unity and the preservation of their ethnic identity and way of life. He highlighted the hardships faced by Zo communities in the Chin Hills, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Manipur, where they have allegedly experienced various forms of oppression and insecurity. He also said many Zo people no longer feel safe living freely in their ancestral lands.
The statement further said Lalnunfela criticised the proposed Indo-Myanmar border fencing by the Indian government, describing it as a violation of the rights of the Zo people and contrary to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). He warned that the fencing project could create deeper divisions among Zo communities living across international borders.
He also urged UNPFII leaders and rapporteurs to examine the historical and political status of the Zo people in light of the Indian Independence Act, 1947, particularly Section 7.1(c), and the Panglong Agreement, with the aim of safeguarding their rights, dignity, and entitlements.
Lalnunfela Chawngthu is currently based in the United States, where he is involved in peace and reconciliation efforts among ethnic groups from the Chin Hills region.
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