Kuki-Zo people hold rally in Manipur; demand Union Territory with a legislative power
Thousands of protesters from the Kuki-Zo tribal community marched through the streets in Lamka (Churachandpur) on Monday demanding a Union Territory (UT) with a legislature under Article 239(A) of the Indian Constitution.
The rally, organized by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), started at Lamka Public Ground in the centre of town at 11 am and ended at the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial for almost 200 tribals killed during the violence.
Protesters held placards like “No Political Solution, No Peace”, “Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people Right Now!”, “Forced Union with Meiteis Will Not Last” and “We Want UT Under Article 239A”.
ITLF chairman Pagin Haokip delivered the keynote address at the rally. Other speakers include MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Zo United secretary Rev VL Ngakthang, Zomi Council general secretary Pauneihlal and Kuki Inpi Manipur vice president Jangmang Haokip, ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing read out the content of the memorandum to be submitted to Union home minister Amit Shah through Churachandpur deputy commissioner.
The peaceful rally was organized to demand that the central government expedite the process of finding a political solution to the violence in Manipur. Tribals want the creation of a Union Territory with legislature under Article 239A of the Indian Constitution.
The rally was concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the Union home minister through the deputy commissioner of Churahandpur by ITLF leaders led by the chairman and general secretary.
Similar rallies were also held in Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Pherzawl districts on the same day.
In the memorandum addressed to the Union home minister, the ITLF said there is an urgent need for a political solution that will end the cycle of violence in Manipur. “After so much bloodletting and the complete radicalization of the majority community, it is clear that if we return to a state dispensation controlled by the Meiteis, we will be subjected to open hostility and discrimination—a new-age Apartheid. It is also imperative that the hill districts have their own secretariat to manage all hill affairs until a political solution can be reached.”
“The minority Kuki-Zo community will no longer be able to live a safe and dignified life in Manipur. We, therefore, earnestly request that you expedite our demand for a political solution — Union Territory with a legislature under Article 239(A) of the Indian Constitution that will take into account the needs and aspirations of the tribals in Manipur,” the memorandum stated.
The memorandum also stated that the government should accelerate the process of finding a political solution because, after more than a year of killings and displacements, there is no improvement in the security situation, with citizens at risk of being killed every day.
“In the past few weeks, two tribals were killed by Meitei miscreants in Jiribam district. Another was abducted, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Homes and properties of tribals are still being burned and destroyed, one year after the start of the conflict. To date, almost 200 tribals have been killed and more than 7,000 homes destroyed. In the recent flareup of violence in Jiribam, around 50 homes and shops belonging to tribals were burned down,” it stated.
“For more than a year, supplies of all goods, including essential items, have been blocked from entering tribal areas. Even basic hospital items like cotton swabs often run out. This has severely affected the quality of life for tribals,” it also stated.
“All development activities, including maintenance and repair of public infrastructure, have ground to a halt for the past year in tribal areas, while all Meitei-controlled valley areas enjoy state patronage,” it further stated.
“With tribals unable to travel to the state capital, the Meitei-controlled state government is using the opportunity to conduct mass job recruitment, knowing fully well that tribals will not be able to avail themselves of the opportunity. Many job opportunities have already been lost for tribal youths, showing that the state government is openly partisan,” the memorandum stated.
“Tribal students have also been adversely affected, especially those in technical lines, as all major centres of learning and all head offices are located in the capital,” it said.
“As a minority community with fewer numbers and even fewer resources to protect ourselves, we are under constant threat of being attacked by militant groups like Arambai Tenggol and the proscribed UNLF, who have access to a large arsenal of weapons bought from across the border or looted from state armouries. They have openly stated that they aim to either kill all of us or drive us out of our lands,” it added.
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