UKHRUL: Dimasa youths in Dima Hasao district have voiced strong opposition to the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) signed between the Government of Assam and several Kuki–Hmar militant groups, raising concerns over land, identity, and political rights.
The MoS were signed with the United Kukigam Defence Army (UKDA), formed in 2010; the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), established in 2000 in Karbi Anglong district; the Kuki Liberation Organization/Kuki Liberation Army (KLO/KLA), formed in 1992–93 in Dima Hasao district; and the Hmar Peoples’ Convention Democratic (HPC-D), formed between 2003 and 2004 by Hmar youth.
Dimasa youths, speaking out publicly, expressed apprehension that the agreement could affect the interests of indigenous communities in the region. They warned that the creation of new institutional structures in areas they consider part of their traditional homeland may lead to overlapping authority and impact their rights over land and governance. The protest message reflected a strong sense of unity and determination within the community, with calls for greater consultation before implementing decisions that directly affect them.
Community leaders emphasised that protecting identity and territorial rights remains their top priority. The concerns are rooted not only in present administrative arrangements but also in history. The Dimasa were historically known as Kachari and are regarded as one of the oldest living tribes of Northeast India, with a recorded kingdom spanning nearly 800 years from the 11th to the 19th century. This long historical presence continues to shape their sense of belonging and claims over the region.
The MoS follows years of negotiations after these groups had laid down arms in 2012 in the presence of the then Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of Assam, leading to Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements. Several rounds of tripartite talks eventually culminated in the present settlement, aimed at ensuring peace and addressing the aspirations of Kuki and Hmar communities.
Under the agreement, the government will establish a Kuki Welfare and Development Council (KWDC) and a Hmar Welfare Development Council (HWDC) in Kuki- and Hmar-dominated areas of Assam. Each council will comprise a chairman, deputy chairman, chief executive member, executive members, general members, and government-nominated members, with their headquarters based in Guwahati.
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These councils will receive budgetary support from the state government, and their development plans will be routed through the Transformation and Development Department for approval. The MoS also outlines schemes to accelerate development in Kuki and Hmar-inhabited areas while promoting and protecting their social, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic identities.
In addition, the government has committed to rehabilitating surrendered cadres and providing financial compensation to families of those who lost their lives during the armed struggle.
“Multiple MoS agreements have been signed in recent years with groups such as Bodo, Karbi, Adivasi, DNLA, and factions of ULFA. According to official data, over 9,000 cadres have been rehabilitated, with more than 1,000 arms and significant quantities of ammunition surrendered, ” Pegu was quoted as saying to India Today NE.
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The MoS were signed on behalf of the Assam government by Ajay Tewari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Political Department, in the presence of senior officials including Hiren Ch. Nath, former Special Additional Director General of Police (SB), and Masanda Pertin, Secretary of the Home and Political Department.
Even as the government projects the agreement as a step toward lasting peace, Dimasa youths continue to demand that their voices be heard, underscoring the need for inclusive dialogue in a region shaped by complex histories and overlapping identities.