Kuki-Zo Leaders To Push for Union Territory Status in Key Meeting with Home Ministry
Agartala, Jan 15, 2025, By Our Correspondent112
Leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex socio-political body representing the Kuki-Zo tribal communities in Manipur, are set to meet senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in New Delhi today. The crucial meeting, led by KZC Chairman Henlianthang Thanglet, is expected to address the council’s long-standing demand for a separate administration equivalent to a Union Territory, a move deemed essential for the security and governance of the Kuki-Zo community.
The KZC, an umbrella organization comprising 13 Kuki-Zo tribal groups, along with support from 10 tribal MLAs, has been advocating for the creation of a Union Territory to safeguard the rights and interests of their people. This demand has gained urgency in light of the prolonged ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023, resulting in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and destruction of property.
Earlier this week, the KZC leadership submitted a detailed memorandum to Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla during his maiden visit to the state. The memorandum called for the immediate deployment of "neutral central security forces" to restore law and order and urged the re-demarcation of district police jurisdictions to preserve the buffer zones between the hill and valley regions. The document underscored the dire security situation, noting that over 220 Kuki-Zo community members have been killed, nearly 7,000 homes destroyed, and about 40,000 individuals displaced since the violence began.
The KZC’s memorandum also expressed grave concerns over ongoing attacks allegedly carried out by militant groups like Arambai Tenggol and the proscribed UNLF, which, according to the council, possess looted weaponry and pose a severe threat to the minority community. It described the community’s predicament, stating that homes and properties are still being targeted, with no significant improvement in security even after a year and a half of violence.
“Our only hope for survival lies in a political solution that ensures total separation from the Manipur government and the Meitei community,” the memorandum asserted. It called for the establishment of a Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239(A) of the Indian Constitution as the only viable path to peace and stability. The council emphasized that a complete administrative separation is necessary to end the ongoing ethnic strife and to provide the Kuki-Zo people with a secure future.
Governor Bhalla, during his visit, appealed to civil society organizations to work collaboratively with the state administration in peace-building efforts. He toured relief camps in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts, interacting with displaced individuals who have been living in camps since the violence erupted. Despite these outreach efforts, the KZC’s demands reflect the community’s deep frustration and urgency for autonomy amid an unresolved and worsening crisis.
Today’s meeting with MHA officials is expected to be a pivotal moment in addressing the Kuki-Zo community’s demands and charting a path forward for peace and reconciliation in Manipur.
(Representative Pic taken from internet open source)