Manipur Violence: Old Woman Shot Dead inside Church while Praying

Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)

Conglomerate of Recognised Tribes in Lamka District, Manipur

 PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, 15th June 2023

On 14th June, the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) issued a statement valorizing the “Supreme sacrifices” of supposed Meitei “volunteers” who had died in the attacks on Kuki Zo villages like H. Khopibung, Khamenlok, Chullouphai, P. Phainom, Aigejang, Thambol, Jordanphai, Songjang and Govajang in Kangpokpi district over the past 3 days. All it takes is a simple search in Google map to know that the villages are tribal Kuki Zo villages with the nearest Meitei village at least a few kilometres away. This then begs the question, how did those supposedly ‘innocent civilians’ die in a tribal Kuki Zo village? The only logical conclusion is that they were part of the constant attacks on the tribal villages in the area. Village Defence Volunteers have no option but to defend themselves when attacks are made on their villages.

The COCOMI had already declared a proxy war on the alleged “Chin Kuki Narco terrorism” on 7 th June as propaganda to mobilize Meitei mobs and justify the unending attacks on Kuki Zo villages. This goes in line with open threats of genocide against the Kuki Zo tribals made by Pramot Singh, chief of Meitei Leepun on National Television! Enough evidence has already been made public of the complicity of the state in allowing these radical groups to have a free reign on the people. The Central Armed Forces have been doing their best to establish peace by creating buffer zones between Meitei and Kuki Zo tribal areas. However, it has been reported that large Meitei mobs, numbering in the thousands, and consisting of a large number of Women (Meira Paibis) blocked the central forces from reinforcing the affected areas of conflict while those villages were attacked.

Today marks the end of the 15 day call for peace made by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during visit to Manipur. Far from complying with the requests of the Union Minister, there has been a heightened second wave of attacks on Kuki Zo villages in Sugnu Kangchup and Khopibung areas. The tribal population will never feel safe as long as the communal state and its radical agents are allowed to freely terrorize Kuki Zo villages. There is an urgent need to provide security to the Kuki Zo tribal villages from the unending incursions by Meitei militants. The ITLF reiterates the need for the immediate imposition of President’s Rule in the state in order to create conditions for peace and dialogue.

The institutional oppression of the Kuki Zo tribals is clearly in the current crisis insensitive orders issued by various state institutions concerning the resumption of classes for college students, attendance of offices for government servants, etc knowing fully that the only thing that the Kuki Zo tribals had been hunted down and ‘ from the valley. Those who survived the May Massacre are left with just their bare clothes and the scarred memories of their loved ones being killed in the open streets. All that awaits the tribals in the valley is death and even more oppression. This has necessitated the total separation of administration of the Kuki Zo tribals from Manipur. This is the only solution that safeguards and protects the lives of the tribals from the oppression of the state of Manipur, and ensure lasting peace in the region.

Media & Publicity, 

Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), 

Lamka, Manipur.

Share: