Demonstrations Led by Kuki and Meitei Groups Mark the 2nd Anniversary of Ethnic Violence in Manipur
Street Protests Echo Unresolved Issues in Manipur
In the heart of India's capital, New Delhi, two community groups - the Kuki and Zomi tribes, and the Meitei community - took to the streets at Jantar Mantar on a chilling Saturday, commemorating the completion of two long, tumultuous years since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023.
Clad in black, the Kuki protesters mourned the lives lost in the chaos, reiterating their call for a separate administration to ensure their safety, stability, and access to justice. Organized by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and the Kuki-Zo Women's Forum, Delhi (KZWFD), their voices echoed a struggle that has endured far too long.
With placards that read "Freedom's call: Separate administration" and "No justice, no peace," the Kuki protesters observed a moment of silence for the souls lost and those displaced in the violence and destruction.
The Meitei protesters, dressed in white, gathered under the banner of the Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee, demanding justice, rehabilitation, and a safe return to their homes. Their demands were multifaceted, ranging from discontinuing cross-border terrorism, withdrawing support from armed groups under the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, and the removal of buffer zones dividing communities.
RK Khaidasana, a Meitei protester from Churachandpur in Manipur, shared his heart-wrenching experience of the crisis. Since May 3, 2023, he has been living in displacement, yearning to go back home. "I urge the government to give us justice," he said with a heavy heart, recalling the day violence erupted at 4:30 pm, leaving his neighborhood in flames and people scrambling for safety.
Both communities underscored the need for a comprehensive solution to the escalating ethnic tensions in Manipur. At present, the conflict appears more entrenched than ever, with over 260 lives claimed, thousands injured, and tens of thousands displaced amid ongoing clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis.
While the Delhi-based protests are not explicitly documented in recent news, their core demands for self-governance and justice for the Kuki-Zo, and the pursuit of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) by the Meiteis, may well pave the way for advocacy beyond Manipur's borders. The displaced communities cling to a faint hope for a resolution as the struggle continues.
In Manipur itself, the displaced communities remain steadfast, with the Meiteis observing a shutdown on May 3, 2025, and the Kuki-Zo commemorating it as "Day of Separatism" in hill districts like Churachandpur. Despite security measures in place – with heavy deployments and routine frisks in vulnerable areas – armed factions continue to exert control and collect extortion payments, adding complexity to the humanitarian concerns. IDPs confront challenges of psychological trauma, financial instability, and economic hardships, despite government-led skill development initiatives.
These developments paint a dismal picture of a conflict that has yet to find a resolution. As the struggle continues, there is no denying that both communities' deep-seated grievances and demands for change reflect an unspoken cry echoed by many affected by Manipur's ongoing conflict.
- Protesters from the Kuki and Zomi tribes, along with the Meitei community, gathered in New Delhi, echoing unresolved issues amidst ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
- The Kuki protesters, dressed in black, mourned the lives lost in the chaos and demanded a separate administration for their safety, stability, and access to justice.
- Amidst the general news of war-and-conflicts in Manipur, the sports and sports-betting headlines seem to pale in comparison.
- Tens of thousands of displaced Kuki-Zo people, living in exile, cling to hope for a resolution and advocate for self-governance beyond Manipur's borders.
- In addition to suffering from armed conflicts and political instability, the displaced population faces multiple challenges, including psychological trauma, financial instability, and economic hardships.
- As crime-and-justice issues escalate in Manipur, accidents, fires, and other incidents add to the humanitarian concerns, leaving many communities in dire straits.
- While Delhi-based protests may not receive widespread attention in the mainstream media, discussions about Manipur's ethnic tensions and ongoing conflict remain prevalent in international forums, underscoring the global importance of finding a peaceful resolution.
