KIM lambasts branding of Kuki-Zo volunteers as 'militants'
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, June 29 2023:
Expressing vehement resentment against the allegedly repeated branding of the Kuki-Zo village volunteers as 'militants', the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has lambasted the Meitei media.
Kuki Inpi Manipur Information and Publicity Secretary, Janghaolun Haokip claimed that so far, more than 106 Kuki-Zo people have been killed, 201 villages with over 5000 houses torched and 355 Churches allegedly destroyed, with over 41,425 Kuki-Zo population subjected to internal displacement as a result of the conflict.
At such a critical state of affairs and the threat of attacks to the Kuki-Zo populace and their lands, the need for self-defense is requisite, he said.
He added that a citizen's right to live and right to defend themselves has been misconstrued and put under the label of 'militants' and 'terror outfits' .
Furthermore, the narrative by the Meiteis accusing the Kuki-Zo militants of attacking Meitei settlements is utterly outrageous, "totally out of question" and therefore also greatly disturbing, he claimed.
Thus, Kuki Inpi Manipur implored the Central Government as well as the State and national media to look into the cause of the Kuki-Zo community.
Subsequently, Kuki Inpi Manipur also claimed that the Kuki-Zo village volunteers are the ones defending their lands and not the Kuki SoO groups.
It added that Kuki-Zo people are only defending their villages from attacks by Meitei miscreants.