The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has written to Manipur governor Anusuya Uikey, saying that the only solution to the violence that has continued in the state since May 3 is a complete separation of the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities because “the ethnic fault line and mistrust” between the two communities are beyond compromise.
The Forum, which describes itself as a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Lamka district of Manipur, said that the Kuki-Zo communities are enduring challenging times as a “result of the ethnic cleansing campaign by the Meiteis and the communal Government of Manipur”.
The northeastern state has turned into a war zone since May 3, when simmering ethnic tensions between the Meiti and tribal communities were brought to a boiling point. The Meiteis, who constitute a majority in Manipur, have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status – which is opposed by the tribal communities.
The ITLF letter mentioned that since the violence began more than 40 days, 4500 houses in 160 villages have been burned down, rendering about 36,000 people homeless. “Significantly, 253 Churches were burnt down and thousands of our people [Kuki-Zo] are relocating to various places across the country,” it said.
The forum said that if the governor visits and interacts with the displaced people at the relief centres, she will gain a new perspective and insight into the plight of the tribal communities.
Accusing Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh and his “bigoted supporters” of pushing the State towards “intolerance” towards the tribal communities, ITLF said that the attacks on Kuki-Zo people and territories by Meitei militias is being done “under the guidance of communal ‘State’ forces such as Manipur police commandos, IRB and MR personnel”.
It also claimed that Kuki-Zo village vigilantes, who are using licensed and traditional weapons to “repel” attacks by Meitei militia, are branded as ‘militants’ and ‘terrorists’ by the Manipur government. On the other hand, “Meitei militias, radical mobs, the police commandos and other State forces” who let “loose terror” on tribal people in Imphal valley “are vindicated”, it said.
ITLF also decried the government’s description of Kuki-Zo people as ‘illegal immigrants,’ ‘foreigner,’ ‘poppy planter,’ ‘drugs dealers,’ ‘forest encroachers,’ ‘tenants,’ ‘terrorists’ and ‘narco-terrorists’.
The letter says it is unimaginable for Kuki-Zo people to go back to the Imphal Valley. “The crux of the problem lies in disconnected communities living together without any cohesive or binding force. Therefore, the ultimate solution lies in the separation of the ‘disconnected’ communities so as to enable them to live as neighbours,” it says.
The forum also claimed that since Union home minister Amit Shah’s visit, “as many 55 villages were burnt, more than 11 lives were lost”. It said that villages in Kangchup which were deserted by the displaced Kuki-Zo villagers were now occupied by the Meitei people.
The complete letter is reproduced below.
§
To,
Smt. Anusuiya Uikey, Governor of Manipur.
Your Excellency,
Date: 12 June 2023
The Kuki-Zo people have been enduring one of the most challenging phases in our history as a result of the ethnic cleansing campaign by the Meiteis and the communal Government of Manipur. In the State- sponsored pogrom against our people since May 3, we have lost as many as 100 precious lives and many more dead remains unaccounted for. Besides, about 4500 houses in 160 villages have been burned down thereby rendering about 36,000 people homeless. Significantly, 253 Churches were burnt down and thousands of our people are relocating to various places across the country. We believe that your visit and interaction with the displaced people at the relief centres will give you a new perspective and insight into our plights.
The mayhem was the result of open hatred of our people by radical and chauvinist Meiteis whose unprecedented upsurge was recorded during the past six years when N. Biren Singh took over as the Chief Minister of Manipur. N Biren and his bigoted supporters pushed the State towards intolerance and their open dislike for our people culminated with the pogrom on May 3 resulting in the physical separation of the Kuki-Zo hill people and the Meiteis. Imphal became literally the valley of death for our people as anyone identified with Kuki-Zo ethnicity was brutally attacked, killed and thrown out of the Imphal valley. Our sufferings and ordeals were indescribable and it will remain a blot in the history of human civilisation.
As you are very much aware, the brutality on our people reached such a horrible height that a Kuki-Zo MLA, who is also the Adviser to CM, is in a coma till today after being bludgeoned by the Meitei mob in Imphal. The residence of a Cabinet Minister belonging to the Kuki-Zo community was razed to the ground by the same Meitei mob. This particular Minister made a narrow escape from the jaws of the Meitei mob. Our people cannot even imagine sharing space again with the Meiteis, whose extreme hostility towards our people is boundless.
The attack on our people and territory by Meitei militias under the guidance of communal ‘State’ forces such as Manipur police commandos, IRB and MR personnel is still going unabated in our areas bordering the Meitei settlement of Manipur valley.
The Meitei militias masquerading as mob, led by Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel continued attacking our villages in the peripheral areas. Our helpless villagers are spending sleepless nights maintaining strict vigil around the villages in the face of imminent attacks. There have been enough cases wherein well-armed marauders from neighbouring communities who came in hordes under the guidance of communal Manipur state forces were repelled by village vigilantes using licensed and traditional weapons.
Unfortunately, these village volunteers, who are defending their ancestral land from the onslaught of neighbouring invaders, are branded as ‘militants’ and ‘terrorists’ by the Manipur Government and Meitei CSOs. To our dismay, the Meitei militias, radical mobs, the police commandos and other State forces, let loose terror on our people in Imphal valley and launched offensive strikes, including the shelling of mortars on our civilians, killing and maiming women and children mercilessly, are vindicated on the other hand.
The Meitei CSOs continued issuing open threats and warnings of an impending attack on our people. While some declared ‘war on Kuki-Chin Narco-terrorists’, others warned of delivering a powerful and ‘indefensible blow’ on our people which can wipe out the whole Kuki-Zo population. In their attempt to project their pre-planned pogrom against our people to suit their agenda and interest, the communal Manipur government and Meitei CSOs gave and called us different names such as ‘illegal immigrants,’ ‘foreigner,’ ‘poppy planter,’ ‘drugs dealers,’ ‘forest encroachers,’ ‘tenants,’ ‘terrorists,’ ‘narco-terrorists’ and whatnots. This has further alienated us and made our pains and sufferings more excruciating.
Against these backdrops of affronts, open insults, agonising ordeals and importantly severe impending threats, our people (including Government employees) returning to Imphal or the idea of ‘going back’ to the valley is unimaginable and out of the question. Our fear and apprehension are real and cannot be downplayed.
The crux of the problem lies in disconnected communities living together without any cohesive or binding force. Therefore, the ultimate solution lies in the separation of the ‘disconnected’ communities so as to enable them to live as neighbours. Unless the separation of the two disconnected communities is accomplished, communal flames of higher magnitude are certain to happen again at any given moment in the future. The ethnic fault line and mistrust between the two communities are entrenched deeper and have reached such a level which is beyond compromise.
Ever since the Union Home Minister’s visit, the demands that we put up to him were not met. We asked for better security to safeguard our lives and villages, yet as many 55 villages were burnt, more than 11 lives were lost. Villages in Kangchup which were deserted by the displaced Kuki-Zo villagers were now occupied by the Meitei people. This shows Meitei’s intention of grabbing the land of the Kuki-Zo people.
The Chief Minister, as an alleged perpetrator, cannot be considered impartial in matters concerning the Kuki-Zo community and cannot be accepted as a member of the peace committee. Also, COCOMI who recently declared war against the Chin-Kuki community is made part of the Peace Committee. Granting them a position of authority within the peace committee would undermine the principles of fairness and impartiality, potentially hindering the pursuit of justice in this ethnic violence. While the Meitei Leepun’s Chief Pramot Singh openly announced the intention of the Meiteis in wiping out the Kuki population from Manipur, the constitution of a Peace Committee without addressing this threat is dubious and deceitful.
Solution precedes Peace. Our only hope of survival lies in a political solution for the Kuki-Zo community which is total separation from the communal Manipur Government and the Meitei people. The Hills and Valley have been partitioned and the only thing left now is separation in the administration. Peace will only prevail once the separation is in effect.
We beseech you to take cognizance of our plights and take prompt measures to redress our grievances and also endorse our aspiration of having a separate administration to the authority concerned.
Pagin Haokip
Chairman,
Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)
Muan Tombing
Secretary,
Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)