CHURACHANDPUR, Oct 6: The Kuki Chiefs’ Association, Manipur (KCAM), has strongly condemned a recent order from the Manipur State Government’s Department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, which demands detailed documentation of Kuki-Zo villages and hills from 1964 onwards.
In a statement, KCAM called the directive highly insensitive, particularly given the ongoing violence and displacement of over 40,000 Kuki-Zo people, whose villages have been burned and destroyed during the current crisis.
KCAM expressed concerns that the order highlights systemic discrimination and injustice against the Kuki-Zo community. The association pointed out that the timing of the directive is especially troubling, as the Kuki-Zo people face existential threats from what they describe as radicalized Meitei groups. They believe the order seeks to undermine the traditional chieftainship and rights of the Kuki-Zo people and could lead to encroachment on their ancestral lands.
In response, KCAM has resolved that no Kuki-Zo chief will comply with the government’s demand for documentation. The association reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing a Separate Administration with Union Territory status, which would protect the autonomy and rights of the Kuki-Zo people.
KCAM also urged the Kuki-Zo community to unite in defiance of the government’s order, standing together to protect their rights and heritage.
