Kuki CSOs urged to give up claim on Mt Koubru
Source: Chronicle News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 27 2021:
Rongmei Naga Council, Manipur (RNCM), Inpui Naga Union, Manipur (INUM) and Zeme Naga Council, Manipur (ZNCM) have appealed to the "Kuki civil society organisations to give up the claim on Koubru range and all the lands belonging to the indigenous communities as their ancestral land".
RNCM, INUM and ZNCM said their effort is in the interest of peaceful coexistence among different communities.
In a joint press statement, the three tribe bodies said that they have been closely following the developments taking place in an around the Koubru mountain especially after the notification issued by the state Arts and Culture department in connection with the declaration of the Lai Pukhri and the surrounding areas for preservation as holy and religious sites of lord Koubru", who is the ancient god of the indigenous communities particularly the Meiteis, Rongmeis, Liangmais, Inpuis, Thangals, Zemes since time immemorial".
The joint statement further said that Inpui, Zeme and Rongmei tribes are historically the closest kin of the Liangmai tribe right from the dispersal from Makuilong-di ancient village nearly 1700 years back till today.
The statement added that the above mentioned tribes have been living together sharing common history, common land boundaries, common customary and traditional practices.
The joint statement also said that Inpui, Zeme and Rongmei tribal councils after closely following the "unfounded and baseless claims" made by some civil societies belonging to the "so-called Kuki tribe" over the ancestral homelands of the Rongmeis, Inpuis and the Liang-mais which fall on the western side of the Imphal river.
The joint statement further said that the forefathers of the Inpui, Zeme, Rongmei and Liangmai kindred tribes maintained well defined land boundary with one another.
It further said that Inpui, Zeme and Rongmei tribal councils have cross-checked the claims of the Liangmai Naga Council over the Koubru mountain range and have confirmed from the elders of the tribes concerned that there has been no dispute amongst them since time immemorial and the claim of the Liangmai Naga Council (Eastern zone) is an indisputable fact.
"According to the elders of the kindred tribes, the existing Liangmai villages surrounding Koubru mountain range are very ancient villages which are more than 1700 years", it added.
The joint statement said, "It is very unfortunate for the people who recently came to settle in the lands of the indigenous people, instead of acknowledging the generosity and goodwill of their benefactors have been consistently trying to establish false history by distorting the story of the indigenous people to justify their imaginary claim as their ancestral lands" .
It added, "The Inpui, Zeme and Rongmei tribal councils, therefore, in the interest of peaceful coexistence among different communities, appeal to the Kuki civil society organisations to give up the claim on the Koubru range and all the lands belonging to the indigenous communities as their ancestral land" .
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