Manipur: CoTU Submits Memorandum to Sambit Patra Demanding Separate Administration

Dr. Sambit Patra, BJP National Spokesperson and North East In-Charge, visited Manipur’s Kangpokpi District as part of his two-day tour following stops in Churachandpur and Imphal, where the state has been affected by ongoing violence. During his visit, Dr. Patra held a private meeting with local BJP MLA Nemcha Kipgen at her residence in Kangpokpi District Headquarters. The details of their discussion have not been revealed.

Later, Dr. Patra engaged with representatives from the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), SAHILCA, KWU Sadar Hills, and other tribal organizations at the 112 CRPF Camp in Kangpokpi. While the specific discussions of the meeting have not been made public, CoTU sources indicated that Dr. Patra urged civil society leaders to work toward restoring peace, normalcy, and ensuring the safe movement of people along the national highway.

During this meeting, CoTU submitted a three-page memorandum to Dr. Patra outlining the urgent concerns of the Kuki-Zo community. These concerns included security threats, political underrepresentation, demands for a separate administration, and the need for justice and rehabilitation. The memorandum represents the unified voice of the Kuki-Zo community, highlighting pressing issues related to their survival and dignity.

Security Concerns of the Kuki-Zo Community:
CoTU raised alarms about the persistent and targeted violence against the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur. Despite repeated appeals, the community claims that the central security forces have not been deployed effectively in vulnerable areas to ensure their safety.

Lack of Administrative Representation:
The Kuki-Zo community voiced frustration over their near-complete exclusion from key administrative and political roles in the state. They highlighted this chronic underrepresentation, arguing that it has deepened their vulnerability and deprived them of basic constitutional rights.

Renewed Call for a Separate Administration:
Amid ongoing violence and eroded trust in the current system, the memorandum reiterated the Kuki-Zo community’s demand for a Separate Administration. CoTU emphasized that this is not a move toward division but a necessary step to protect the identity, safety, and rights of the Kuki-Zo people.

Protection of Tribal Areas:
CoTU accused the state of encroaching on and exploiting tribal land and resources, calling for the enforcement of constitutional protections under Article 371C and the Fifth and Sixth Schedules. The community also demands official recognition and legal safeguards for their ancestral territories.

Kuki-Zo Community Stands:
The memorandum highlighted the Kuki-Zo community’s commitment to peace and constitutional dialogue, stressing that their calls for administrative autonomy arise out of survival imperatives, not from secessionist intent.

Cessation of Hostilities:
CoTU insists on the need for a “Cessation of Hostilities,” which should begin with the disarmament and dismantling of hostile forces. Additional proposals include the imposition of AFSPA across Manipur, separate meetings with the Ministry of Home Affairs for Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups, restrictions on free movement, and signing a cessation of hostilities agreement to begin dialogue with the Meitei community’s mandated civil society organizations.

Development and Rehabilitation Demanded:
The Kuki-Zo community also raised concerns about the severe neglect of healthcare and education in the hills. They demanded the immediate establishment of a Hills University and a fully functional hospital in Kangpokpi. Additionally, they called for a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement program for thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict.

In summary, the memorandum submitted by CoTU emphasizes the Kuki-Zo community’s calls for increased security, political representation, and administrative autonomy to ensure their safety and well-being amidst the ongoing violence in Manipur.