New Delhi: The Kuki Uprising Persists Under President's Rule
"Speaker of Manipur Militant Groups' collective on possible compensation..."
The spokesperson of an amalgamation of 17 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur expresses optimism about their quest for seceding from the state while it's under President's rule.
Seilen Haokip, the mouthpiece of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), shed light on the interpretation of the term "territorial integrity of Manipur" as stated in the SoO (Suspension of Operations) agreement.
"There's no concerns about the role of SoO and political demand being diminished in any way," Mr Haokip stated in response to a question concerning political unity during a 'Space' session on X, on April 27.
"Actually, President's rule is a period when the state government has been placed on an animated hold. And this is the time we can advance if we stand united and enable the government to take action," he added.
"Because previously, during the past two years, for instance, the government tried to initiate their commitments with the SoO groups. But somehow or other, the chief minister would create hurdles in some locations to derail the SoO talks. Now, we've got that out of the way," Mr Haokip conveyed, alluding to former chief minister N Biren Singh, a Meitei community member who the Kuki tribes hold responsible for the ethnic strife outbreak.
The former chief minister has rebutted the accusations. He insists that his government's actions such as crackdowns on illegal immigrants, illegal opium poppy cultivation, and forest encroachers were not aimed at any particular community.
"However, as I mentioned earlier, the problem I've encountered is more about our internal issues, such as name disputes or perceived weakening of agreement that they believe to be true. On that count, I've stated numerous times, name a single instance where the SoO has done something counter to our political demands? Have we ever wavered, have we ever breached any of the points of pledges? Absolutely not. So, I hope that clarification will completely clear up any notion of disunity in this regard or any kind of decline in terms of engagement," Mr Haokip maintained.
Twenty-five insurgent groups of the Kuki, Zomi, and Hmar tribes come under two umbrella organizations for negotiation purposes with India – the influential Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF), led by the Zomi Revolutionary Army. The KNO is directed by the Kuki National Army.
The KNO, representing 17 armed groups, and the UPF, representing eight armed groups, signed the tripartite SoO agreement with the Centre and the state government as part of broader political discussions. They had been negotiating for a territorial council until the demand changed to complete separation from Manipur after the outbreak of ethnic clashes two years ago.
The valley-dominant Meiteis are opposed to Manipur's division, while the Kuki tribes in southern Manipur's hill districts and certain northern regions desire a separate administration or 'Kukiland' carved out from Manipur.
In response to a query about the mention of "territorial integrity of Manipur" in the SoO agreement, Mr Haokip said the issue of Manipur's territorial integrity will become obsolete once the Kuki tribes secure the political solution they have sought.
"Territorial integrity was a clause inserted by the government of Manipur at a time – if you will, categorize it – before May 3, the preceding years. At that time, our demand was for a territorial council. So, there's no contradiction in terms where you have territorial council and territorial integrity because TC [territorial council] was to be within Manipur," Mr Haokip claimed in the 'Space' session on X, adding that he also addressed questions.
"It was a clause that was deeply disliked but technically there was no contradiction because the territorial council was to be within Manipur. However, after May 3, things changed, a paradigm shift occurred. The clause territorial integrity no longer resonates with us. It is irrelevant to us anymore. But technically, it remains in the preamble of the SoO ground rules, not in the political dialogue platform," Mr Haokip expressed.
Two distinct platforms exist – SoO, referring to the ground rules, where the Constitution of India is in the first paragraph of the preamble, and secondly, the state government had inserted the territorial integrity clause, Mr Haokip explained.
"Since May 3, until we reach a settlement for the SoO preamble section, that [territorial integrity clause] will persist. It will persist in the sense... Let me try to explain – since May 3, the assertion of the terms Lamka and Kangui has gained momentum. However, until we secure our settlement, the official terms will continue to be Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. And that will be the same in terms of the territorial integrity clause. The day we settle, the territorial integrity component will become insignificant, irrelevant, and we will have the authority to formally refer to Lamka town as Lamka, and Kangpokpi district as Kangui," Mr Haokip stated.
While Meitei civilian organizations have accused SoO group insurgents of participating in the Manipur violence under the guise of 'village volunteers', the Kuki tribes have pointed at Meitei insurgents who they claim fled from conflict-stricken Myanmar to attack Kuki villages.
The first time the Manipur Police declared evidence of SoO group members and Meitei insurgents involved in the fighting was in September 2024, when they recovered five bodies in Jiribam district following a shootout.
Three were confirmed as insurgents of the SoO signatory Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) from Churachandpur district, the fourth was a Kuki volunteer from Jiribam, and the fifth was recognized as a member of the Meitei insurgent group United National Liberation Front (Pambei), which signed a ceasefire with the Centre and the state in November 2023 – the first and oldest Meitei insurgent group to sign a ceasefire.
Many Kuki tribes' villages encircle the Meitei-dominated valley. Clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen Kuki tribes, such as 'Any Kuki Tribes', have resulted in over 260 fatalities and displaced nearly 50,000 people.
The Meiteis want to be recognized under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic bonds with people in neighboring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram seek a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and an unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.
- Despite the rebuttal from the former chief minister N Biren Singh, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) maintain their belief that his government's actions were targeted at the Kuki tribes.
- In the 'Space' session on X, Mr Haokip clarified that the Kuki tribes' demand for complete separation from Manipur was a result of a paradigm shift that occurred after May 3.
- The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) had previously negotiated for a territorial council, but after May 3, their demand changed to complete separation from Manipur.
- The mention of "territorial integrity of Manipur" in the SoO agreement will become insignificant once the Kuki tribes secure the political solution they have sought, according to Seilen Haokip.
