Kuki and Zomi organisations in Manipur reaffirmed their demand for a Union Territory with Legislature, rejected participation in programmes involving Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, and formed a joint monitoring mechanism to track communal tensions and social media activities.
Two major Kuki-Zomi armed political groups in Manipur have once again reaffirmed their long-standing demand for a separate Union Territory with Legislature, maintaining that the position adopted after the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, remains unchanged.
The announcement was made jointly by the Kuki National Organisation and the Zomi Reunification Organisation after a high-level meeting held at the residence of the Zomi Reunification Organisation President in Manipur.
According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, both organisations reiterated that their “common political objective” continues to be the creation of a Union Territory with Legislature for the Kuki-Zomi people. The groups clarified that the position would remain intact unless a new collective decision is taken in future discussions.
The Kuki National Organisation, commonly known as KNO, serves as an umbrella body for several Kuki-Zo insurgent groups operating under the Suspension of Operations agreement signed with the Government of India. The Zomi Reunification Organisation is a constituent of the United Peoples’ Front, another conglomerate of armed groups also covered under the same ceasefire arrangement.
The two organisations further resolved unanimously not to participate in any programme involving Yumnam Khemchand Singh during his proposed visit to Churachandpur district, a region predominantly inhabited by members of the Kuki-Zo community.
The decision reflects the continuing political and ethnic tensions in Manipur, which has remained deeply divided since the outbreak of violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in May 2023. The unrest has resulted in widespread displacement, destruction of property, and a prolonged political deadlock across the state.
In another important development, the Kuki National Organisation and the Zomi Reunification Organisation announced the formation of a Joint Monitoring Cell aimed at tracking and responding to incidents of communal disharmony allegedly being spread through social media platforms, including Facebook pages.
The statement noted that the Information and Public Relations Departments of both organisations would jointly manage the monitoring mechanism. The secretaries of the two groups would supervise and coordinate its functioning to ensure effective communication and monitoring of online activities linked to communal tensions.
The meeting also addressed disagreements over the use of the term “Kuki-Zo” as a common nomenclature for the communities involved in the movement. According to the statement, leaders from the Zomi side reportedly expressed reservations about the terminology and proposed the use of “Kuki-Zomi” instead, arguing that it better represents the broader political movement.
The Kuki National Organisation cabinet is expected to hold internal consultations with leaders advocating the use of the “Kuki-Zo” terminology before the issue is discussed again at the next joint meeting between the two organisations.
Additionally, discussions were held on the proposal to establish a Central Working Committee to coordinate and monitor the ongoing political dialogue related to the Kuki-Zomi movement. The Zomi Reunification Organisation cabinet will first deliberate internally on the proposal before bringing it back for further discussion.
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At present, 23 underground outfits remain under the Suspension of Operations agreement with the Government of India. These include eight groups under the United Peoples’ Front and 15 under the Kuki National Organisation. The ceasefire arrangement has been in force since August 2008 and continues to play a central role in peace negotiations in Manipur.
