New Delhi: A Kuki-Zo organisation in Manipur has urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to intervene in the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state and take note of the “gross violation of human rights” faced by the Kuki-Zo community. The plea comes after violent clashes erupted in Kangpokpi on Saturday (March 8), which resulted in the death of one Kuki man, and several others were injured.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) accused the security forces of using excessive force, including “firing” on protesters who were singing the national anthem and waving the national flag on the first day on which Union home minister Amit Shah’s order of “free movement” between the valley and the hills came into force. Since the conflict started in May 2023, Meitei-majority valley areas and Kuki-majority hill areas had been closed to members of the other community.
On March 8, the violence began when a Meitei group marched toward the hill districts, leading to confrontations with Kuki-Zo community members attempting to block their entry. The Meitei group had attempted to enter both Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts but clashes erupted only on the Kangpokpi side. The biggest clash occurred near Gamgiphai, the ‘buffer zone’ – thought to be no man’s land – beyond which Kangpokpi district begins, where the Kuki-Zo community has been in the majority since May 3, 2023. The protestors were dispersed using tear gas and lathi charge by central forces, as per local media reports.
The KOHUR statement emphasised the need for the UN to take note of the discrimination and human rights violations faced by the Kuki-Zo community, particularly in the context of the ongoing ethnic conflict that has claimed at least 261 lives and displaced 60,000 people over the past 22 months.
“… we invite OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights), Volker Turk, to take note of the discrimination against Kuki-Zo people based on their religion and ethnicity and the gross violation of human rights, especially against the minority Kuki-Zo people,” the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) said in a statement on Saturday night.
During his March 3 address at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Turk expressed concerns about Kashmir and Manipur. He underlined the need to address the harassment of human rights defenders and independent journalists in Kashmir, which has led to arbitrary detentions and a shrinking civic space. Turk also urged for increased efforts to tackle violence and displacement in Manipur through dialogue, peace-building, and human rights.
“I am concerned by the use of restrictive laws and harassment against human rights defenders and independent journalists resulting in arbitrary detention and a diminished civic space, including in Kashmir, ” he said. “I also call for stepped-up efforts to address violence and displacement in Manipur, based on dialogue, peace-building and human rights.”
However, the Union government quickly dismissed Turk’s comments as “unfounded and baseless.” Arindam Bagchi, India’s permanent representative to the UN, responded by calling for a deeper understanding of India’s diverse and open society.
The situation in Manipur has been tense since May 2023, with clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo and other tribal hill communities. The Centre’s decision to resume bus services without a prior political resolution has been met with resistance from Kuki-Zo organisations, who demand Union Territory status for their areas before “free movement” resumes.
Since the state went into President’s Rule on February 13, this is the first instance of a death in ethnic clashes in Manipur. Meanwhile, life in Kangpokpi and other Kuki-Zo areas remains paralysed due to an indefinite shutdown called by the Kuki-Zo Council.
