KANGPOKPI, Nov 15: The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) on Thursday issued a strong statement, urging the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) to withdraw its recent complaints against the organization, which were submitted to the President of India. 

COTU emphasized its commitment to standing as a voice for minority rights in Manipur’s Sadar Hills, specifically for the Kuki-Zo community, amid what it describes as “state-backed atrocities” and “systemic repression.”

In its statement, COTU condemned actions by the majority Meitei community, accusing it of infringing on the fundamental rights of the Kuki-Zo people to freedom and survival. According to COTU, Kuki-Zo individuals have endured racial profiling, religious persecution, and the calculated dismantling of their institutions over the past 17 months, actions it claims are supported by government machinery to promote a “fascist, nepotistic, and hegemonic” agenda.

COTU specifically blamed Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, describing him as the mastermind of what it calls an “ethnic cleansing campaign.” The organization accuses Singh of using state resources to fuel divisive actions that marginalize and target Kuki-Zo citizens. 

Calling the situation a “political genocide in plain sight,” COTU asserted that Singh is unwelcome in Kuki-Zo areas, labeling him a symbol of intolerance. The statement further accused him of using Manipur’s diversity to enforce a narrow and exclusive vision that isolates the Kuki-Zo community from their ancestral lands.

Addressing the Naga community’s neutral stance on the ongoing ethnic conflict, COTU called on Manipur’s Naga leaders to consider their shared history with the Kuki-Zo community. While expressing disappointment, COTU encouraged renewed solidarity, warning that similar divisive tactics could be used against other tribal communities. “It is our sincere call to our Manipur Naga brethren: resist the divisive influence of the majoritarian forces that seek to annihilate anyone outside their own ranks,” COTU stated.

Additionally, COTU urged the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) to reconsider its recent grievances against the organization. Asserting that it advocates for all tribal and minority rights, COTU invited the LNC and other groups to join them in creating a unified front against what it views as state-sponsored abuse of power.