ZRA, ZDV, ZRF draw distinct line of 'separateness'
'Zomi groups not a part of UPF'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 21 2025: The Zomi groups (ZRA, ZDV and ZRF) of the United People's Front (UPF) have categorically stated that they (Zomi groups) are not part and parcel of UPF .

While addressing the Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups, the Zomi groups of UPF should be referred to as 'Zomi SoO Groups or Zomi Groups of UPF' .

Additionally, the term 'Kuki-Zomi-Hmar' should be used when addressing all the SoO groups, LT Paite, Secretary, Information & Publicity, Zomi Group of UPF said in a statement.

"The ZRO/ZRA and Zomi CSOs do not recognise Kuki-Zo as our identity, nor do we support them as our official body for the movement for Separate Administration", it said.

The UPF has been functionally defunct since 2018 .

The Zomi groups of UPF are not part and parcel of UPF (which has become Kuki UPF) .

In any case there is not a term called Spokesperson in the constitution which means that it is a self-appointed designation.

Moreover, spokespersons can't represent the whole organisation.

"Any press release or statement from UPF or views expressed by the so-called spokesperson do not represent us, nor do we endorse his views or share our opinion and stance on any issues", it said.

In the recent Nampi Conclave held in Guwahati on November 14 and 15, 2025, neither the three Zomi groups nor the Zomi civil society organisation sent a representative.

The two spokespersons proceeded to convene a conclave without the consent of the top leaders.

"For these reasons, none of us participated in or supported the recent Nampi Conclave held in Guwahati on November 14-15, 2025", LT Paite said.

The Zomi group of UPF asserted that they will continue to promote non-communal and inclusive approaches and reject all forms of supremacy measures.

Any solution that doesn't recognise and respect Zomi identity, history, culture, land and resources is unacceptable, it said.

The Zomi groups of UPF remain committed to collaborating with the Zo kindred tribes in a spirit of mutual respect, unity, and love, it said.

"Even though some sections of our people continue to use colonial names (Kuki/Lushai/Chin) for convenience, we acknowledge that Zomi (also known as Zo people, Zosuan or Zofate) is our true, original and indigenous identity", it asserted.

The Zomi group of UPF said that the term 'Kuki-Zo' does not represent their identity.

It is a recent term created for convenience by KNO and Kuki groups of UPF only, it said.

A joint meeting of UPF and KNO held at VTE Rengkai on June 29, 2018 unanimously decided against enforcing identity labels upon each other (a reaffirmation of the 1998 Kuki-Zomi Peace Accord).

However, the Joint Drafting team's proposal couldn't be pursued when Kuki groups of the UPF and KNO took a dogmatic stand on naming the territorial council as Kukiland Territorial Council at a meeting held on July 10, 2018 at Kangpokpi.

Post May 3, 2023 crisis, the people's movement for Separate Administration has been consistently hampered on the identity issue, according to the statement issued by LT Paite.

A joint meeting of SoO groups and MLAs held at Guwahati on July 17, 2024 mandated the Zo United (ZU) as the apex CSO for political and social issues; however, in the same month, Kuki groups withdrew on communal grounds and formed KZC to espouse Kuki's identity.

So KZC is not a consensus platform, it asserted.

Saying that their collective demand is for a Union Territory with the legislature (Pondicherry model), the Zomi Groups of UPF said that they will continue to strive for their collective demand until the people decide otherwise.

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