Support for Kuki-Zo Council Grows Louder

UKHRUL: Support for Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has grown louder with various Kuki bodies endorsing the resolution adopted by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) in regards to the formation of a popular government in Manipur.

The Kuki Chief Association Tengnoupal District, (the apex body of the district), the Hill Tribal Council, (HTC) Moreh and the Molnoi Area Welfare Council (MAWC), on behalf of the general people of Tengnoupal district, have stated that they unequivocally endorse and support the resolution adopted by KZC in regards to the formation of popular government in Manipur. The Kuki bodies, in a statement, said that the Kuki-Zo people have been demanding total separation from the Meitei community and hence the decision of the Kuki-Zo council is in accordance with the wish and aspiration of the Kuki-Zo people. 

“The Kuki-Zo people in general and the people of Tengnoupal district in particular have endured untold hardships and the prevailing political, social and security environment has rendered co-existence a far cry to which without any political settlement, the people of the district cannot compromise and accept future co-existence and peace by forming government together as we have been driven out from the valley areas,” the statement read. 

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The three organisations urged the central authority to understand the sentiments and plight of the Kuki-Zo people and initiate steps to fulfill their collective demand for separate administration within the constitution of the Indian Union.

Moreover, the Kuki Inpi Ukhrul District also expressed its full and unwavering support for the resolution of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC). 

Stating that the re-affirmation of the demand for a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory under the Constitution of India is a legitimate and constitutional response to the prevailing political, social and security realities in Manipur, the Kuki Inpi Ukhrul said it reflects the failure of the existing administrative structure to ensure justice, safety and equal governance for the Kuki-Zo People.

It further stated that it fully endorses the unanimous resolution that the Kuki-Zo people cannot and shall not participate in the formation of the Government of Manipur under the present circumstances. 

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“Any political participation without accountability, restoration of normalcy and justice for the victims would amount to a betrayal of the collective suffering and aspirations of our people. The Kuki Inpi Ukhrul stands in complete solidarity with the Kuki-Zo Council and the Kuki-Zo people in their pursuit of justice, dignity and a secure political future,” the Kuki Inpi Ukhrul District stated while urging the Government of India to treat the resolution with due seriousness.

The Kuki Inpi Jiribam,Tamenglong and Noney also said it unequivocally endorses and fully supports the Press Release issued by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on January 8, reaffirming the resolution adopted by the Kuki-Zo Council as the collective will and democratic mandate of the Kuki-Zo people.

“We stand firmly with KIM in asserting that, under the present political and security circum-stances, no Kuki-Zo individual or representative should participate in, support, or legitimize the formation of the Government of Manipur, as such actions would contradict the unified stand of the Kuki-Zo people,” Kuki Inpi JTN also said in a statement. 

It further stated that it endorses the demand for a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory under the Constitution of India as a legitimate and necessary political solution to ensure justice, security, and dignity for the Kuki-Zo people.

“Kuki Inpi JTN remains united with Kuki Inpi Manipur, the Kuki-Zo Council, and all constituent bodies in pursuing a just, durable, and honourable political resolution,” it added.