Manipur comes together as one to puncture false narrative
'The war is against all indigenes'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03 2025: Kabui Tribe Union Manipur president Dr K Heera Kabui has categorically stated that the war being waged by immigrant Kukis since May 3, 2023 is not against the Meitei people alone but against all indigenous communities of Manipur including Kabuis and Tangkhuls.

The second 3/5 Remembrance Day was held today at Yumnam Khunou, Imphal East under the aegis of FOCS where thousands of people paid rich tributes to all the martyrs who laid down their lives in defence of the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary.

Speaking at the commemorative event held under the theme "Bridging Divides for a Shared Future", Dr Heera Kabui said that Meiteis are not the only indigenes of Manipur.

Meiteis and other indigenous communities collectively make up Manipur.

The time has passed for the indigenous communities to watch silently to the violent campaign being waged by Kukis to dismember Manipur, he said.

Manipur existed as an independent Nation in South East Asia for thousands of years and there are abundant historical evidence of how and when Kukis came to Manipur.

Fabricated history and false narratives being propagated by Kukis will never be able to suppress the facts and distort the history of Manipur, Dr Heera Kabui asserted.

All the indigenous communities of both the hills and the valley will certainly come together, and no one will be able to challenge the integrity of Manipur, he said.

The campaign of armed aggression launched by immigrant Kukis since May 3, 2023 has completed two years or 730 days or 1752 hours but the Government is still unable to restore peace in the State, he decried.

The Government too has failed to bring peace, he added.

FOCS acting president BM Yaima said that the Remembrance Day was being observed to adopt a collective decision in order to ward off genocide and ethnic cleansing campaigns such as the one being carried out by illegal immigrants.

He invited suggestions from the public including IDPs which may be placed before the Government of India in case there should be any more rounds of peace talks.

BM Yaima said that today's Remembrance Day would go a long way in forging unity among all the people of Manipur, and decisions adopted today would be sent to the Centre.

He also expressed that the Government would take up necessary steps without any further delay to ensure free movement of all sections of people on National Highways in Manipur, restore peace and normalcy in the State.

Retired IAS RK Nimai recalled what the ex-Chief Minister stated on the causes of the May 3 violence.

The ex-Chief Minister stated that the Government's eviction drive against encroachment by illegal Kuki immigrants on forest areas, the Government's war on drugs, destruction of poppy plantations, Government's steps to identify and deport illegal immigrants were the main factors which fuelled the violent crisis, RK Nimai said.

But no one has studied if political differences among the ruling MLAs had anything to do with the crisis.

People have not yet studied whether denial of ministerial berth to all the six MLAs of Churachandpur district has anything to do with the district being the epicentre of the crisis, RK Nimai said.

Soon after Meiteis were evacuated from Kuki dominated areas and Kukis from Imphal, the Kuki-Zo people raised the banner of Separate Administration, he said.

On the other hand, the Suspension of Operation agreement signed between the Government and Kuki militant groups lays down unequivocally that the Kuki militants would not raise any demand which may undermine or threaten the integrity of Manipur, Dr Nimai pointed out.

Yet, one Kuki militant leader claimed that they had an agreement or understanding on certain points with the ruling party before the 2022 State Assembly election, he said.

Contrary to the people's belief that President's Rule will bring peace and normalcy in the State, peace still remains a far cry and the PR Government is still unable to open National Highways, he said.

The Centre and the State Government must warn that the creation of Kangpokpi district may be revoked.

There is a need for proper planning to bring an end to the protracted crisis, Dr Nimai said.

The Government must act with a far-sighted vision, identify and deport immigrants, he asserted.

The Government of India must be informed unambiguously that the Manipur crisis may spread to other parts of India if it is not resolved at the earliest, he said.

Kukis first projected the crisis as oppression by majority Hindus against minority Christians.

But now there is no taker for this fabricated narrative for the whole world has realised the facts, he said.

If there should be peace and harmony among all the communities of Manipur, one must know each other well, Dr Nirnai said.

Many IDPs from Churachandpur, Moreh, Kangpokpi and Ikou etc gave first-hand accounts of the hardships they have been facing for the last two years.

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