Another Kuki-Naga Conflict in the offing?

Ukhrul, Jan 24: In what could be described as a potential “incitement” that may escalate existing communal tensions in Manipur, a Facebook post has quickly gone viral online. The post shared on the Kukiland Facebook page urges the “neighboring Manipur Nagas” to hold off confrontation with the Kukis until the “Kuki-Meitei war” concludes.

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The Facebook page Kukiland, whose logo is a map supposedly of “Kuki State” covering almost the entire political map of Manipur and a so-called “British map of Kuki Country”, stated that they are “currently at war with the Meiteis” and urged the Nagas not to disturb them. “If you think you are warriors and want to fight with us to prove your strength, hold your patience and wait till we are done with the Meiteis, we’ll face each other,” the post read. “If you, Manipur Nagas, think that you can combat the Kukis at war, we’ll face each other men to men, women to women, after the Kuki-Meitei war,” it added.

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The post also advised the Nagas to remember that they (Nagas) are Christians and urged them not to repeat their alleged brutalities committed on “innocent” Kukis and Kuki women, allegedly by the NSCN-IM in the 1990s. It concluded by saying “After all, one thing you must remember as Christians is that, it’s important to love each other as neighbors and live in harmony”.

The post signed by one St. Ginth Haokip, tagged several Kuki armed organizations, including the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), Kuki Chin National Army (KNA), Kuki National Army (B), Mizo National Front (MNF), and Kuki National Organisation (KNO)’s Department of Defense. It also carried photos of the “Kukiland Army” and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) and a proposed map of “Kuki State”, which encompasses almost the entire official map of Manipur.  

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Notably, the Kuki-Zo Council also uses the same controversial map, the proposed “Kuki-State Map”, in their official logo. The proposed map includes regions such as Pherzawl, Jiribam, Noney, Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, and parts of Ukhrul, Senapati, and Tamenglong districts.

Editorial | Tribal Approach in Manipur