Guwahati: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, stated that the government’s move to hold talks with the Kuki Zo Council is the first step to remove the trust deficit that exists between the two communities in the State.
It is also a step to bridge the gap between the two communities in an effort to bring peace. The meeting took place in hotel in Guwahati on Saturday.
The Chief Minister made the above statement while inspecting the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak, Imphal. During the inspection of the ISBT premises, the Chief Minister stated that it was not functional for a very long time, but under the guidance of the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla during the President’s Rule, it has been improved. And to make it more functional, the government is willing to upgrade it with assistance from the Public Works Department (PWD), he added.
Singh stressed that there is no buffer zone in the State. The government, however, identified certain sensitive areas. He said it is a good beginning that the Kuki Zo Council is willing to hold talks after almost three years.
The Chief Minister maintained that our State is inhabited by 36 different communities and our State shall remain intact. “And let us forgive and forget the past for a better future," he added.
In connection with the demand of Separate Administration, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already announced that Manipur's Territorial Integrity will not be compromised. He maintained that he does not need to speak on an issue which has already been cleared by the Prime Minister.
To a question on the movement of people on NH2 (Imphal-Kohima Road), Singh said the people are already travelling on the highway, but in lesser numbers. He said that there is still fear in people's minds when travelling on the highway because of the trust deficit between the two communities. This is the reason why I said that removing the trust deficit is my priority, he added.
He said that there is improvement in law-and-order situation along the Imphal-Ukhrul Road.
Kuki Zo council stated, “Yesterday, for the first time, the Government of Manipur, led by Chief Minister held a meeting with leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council in Guwahati, Assam.
It stated, “The meeting commenced at 7:00 PM and lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. As the first engagement after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities, the interaction was largely an ice-breaking session. The KZC delegation raised several key issues, all of which were attentively heard by the Chief Minister. Prominent among these were the urgent need to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities, and the imperative of ensuring justice for the victims of the conflict as a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process.”
KZC also emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a political settlement is reached. It further stressed the need to expedite a resolution to the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region.The Chief Minister, in turn, shared his concerns, commitments, and the steps undertaken by his government to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
KZC added that the Chief Minister expressed high appreciation for the KZC's initiative and its bold step in engaging with him during this challenging period.The meeting concluded without any decisions or agreements.
A buffer zone means a neutral area or peripheral area as people of the hills and valleys have as separate zones. This demarcation evolved during the ethnic conflict which broke out on May 3, 2023. Meiteis has stoutly rejected the concept of buffer zone while Kukis insist there is a buffer zone.
Post May 3, 2023, Kukis had ventured into the valley area and Meteis hardly moved to Kuki inhabited areas. In recent times there has been increasing clashes between Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis.
Manipur has in the past witnessed bloody clashes between Nagas and Kukis. The Kuki-Naga conflict that began in 1992 and lasted six years had taken the lives of over 1,000 people. The 2023 Kuki-Meitei violence had claimed 360 lives. Tangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur and is mainly found across five to six districts of the state.
Tension flared in Churachandpur on Sunday after miscreants attacked the residence of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet following his meeting with the chief minister.
A large group of youths gathered around 2:40 pm and began pelting stones at the chairman’s residence, attempting to force their way into the premises. The situation escalated rapidly, prompting immediate intervention by security forces stationed at the site. Security personnel resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the mob as it tried to breach the compound.
A senior police officer said, "The attackers regrouped and made a second attempt to storm the residence. The residence remained secure due to sustained and coordinated action by the forces. Groups are roaming in the town creating panic. These groups are beating electric poles".
It is also a step to bridge the gap between the two communities in an effort to bring peace. The meeting took place in hotel in Guwahati on Saturday.
The Chief Minister made the above statement while inspecting the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Khuman Lampak, Imphal. During the inspection of the ISBT premises, the Chief Minister stated that it was not functional for a very long time, but under the guidance of the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla during the President’s Rule, it has been improved. And to make it more functional, the government is willing to upgrade it with assistance from the Public Works Department (PWD), he added.
Singh stressed that there is no buffer zone in the State. The government, however, identified certain sensitive areas. He said it is a good beginning that the Kuki Zo Council is willing to hold talks after almost three years.
The Chief Minister maintained that our State is inhabited by 36 different communities and our State shall remain intact. “And let us forgive and forget the past for a better future," he added.
In connection with the demand of Separate Administration, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already announced that Manipur's Territorial Integrity will not be compromised. He maintained that he does not need to speak on an issue which has already been cleared by the Prime Minister.
To a question on the movement of people on NH2 (Imphal-Kohima Road), Singh said the people are already travelling on the highway, but in lesser numbers. He said that there is still fear in people's minds when travelling on the highway because of the trust deficit between the two communities. This is the reason why I said that removing the trust deficit is my priority, he added.
He said that there is improvement in law-and-order situation along the Imphal-Ukhrul Road.
Kuki Zo council stated, “Yesterday, for the first time, the Government of Manipur, led by Chief Minister held a meeting with leaders of the Kuki-Zo Council in Guwahati, Assam.
It stated, “The meeting commenced at 7:00 PM and lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. As the first engagement after nearly three years of conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities, the interaction was largely an ice-breaking session. The KZC delegation raised several key issues, all of which were attentively heard by the Chief Minister. Prominent among these were the urgent need to de-escalate the ongoing tensions between the Kuki and Tangkhul communities, and the imperative of ensuring justice for the victims of the conflict as a fundamental prerequisite for any meaningful peace and reconciliation process.”
KZC also emphasized the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the buffer zone until a political settlement is reached. It further stressed the need to expedite a resolution to the ongoing Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks to ensure durable and lasting peace in the region.The Chief Minister, in turn, shared his concerns, commitments, and the steps undertaken by his government to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
KZC added that the Chief Minister expressed high appreciation for the KZC's initiative and its bold step in engaging with him during this challenging period.The meeting concluded without any decisions or agreements.
A buffer zone means a neutral area or peripheral area as people of the hills and valleys have as separate zones. This demarcation evolved during the ethnic conflict which broke out on May 3, 2023. Meiteis has stoutly rejected the concept of buffer zone while Kukis insist there is a buffer zone.
Post May 3, 2023, Kukis had ventured into the valley area and Meteis hardly moved to Kuki inhabited areas. In recent times there has been increasing clashes between Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis.
Manipur has in the past witnessed bloody clashes between Nagas and Kukis. The Kuki-Naga conflict that began in 1992 and lasted six years had taken the lives of over 1,000 people. The 2023 Kuki-Meitei violence had claimed 360 lives. Tangkhul is the largest Naga tribe in Manipur and is mainly found across five to six districts of the state.
Tension flared in Churachandpur on Sunday after miscreants attacked the residence of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet following his meeting with the chief minister.
A large group of youths gathered around 2:40 pm and began pelting stones at the chairman’s residence, attempting to force their way into the premises. The situation escalated rapidly, prompting immediate intervention by security forces stationed at the site. Security personnel resorted to tear gas shelling to disperse the mob as it tried to breach the compound.
A senior police officer said, "The attackers regrouped and made a second attempt to storm the residence. The residence remained secure due to sustained and coordinated action by the forces. Groups are roaming in the town creating panic. These groups are beating electric poles".
