Kuki-Zo council denounces allegations
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 24 2024:
The Kuki-Zo Council has strongly condemned what it describes as false and baseless allegations made in a recent news report by the Hindustan Times on November 22 .
The report suggested that five tribal villages - Muolvaiphei, Valpakot, Ngurte, Thenmol, and Khawpuibung - were at the epicentre of the ethnic ongoing conflict in Manipur.
The Council has urged the media to exercise caution and verify facts before disseminating what it terms misleading information.
In a statement, the Council emphasised its role as a responsible body representing the interests of the Kuki-Zo community and called for accuracy and fairness in reporting sensitive issues like ethnic conflicts.
It highlighted the need for journalistic ethics and thorough research, criticising one-sided narratives.
The Council stated that the 10 Kuki-Zo 'village volunteers' , who were killed in Jiribam, acted in defence of their community and were not aggressors.
According to the statement, the volunteers sought to protect Kuki-Zo villages that were under attack from Meetei militants, but not to engage in militant activities.
The Council denounced the labelling of their villages as militant breeding grounds, calling such accusations unjust and unfair.
The Council detailed the root causes of the recent flare-up in Jiribam, pointing to an attack by Meetei militants on Zairawn village on November 7 .
It claimed this assault, which included the burning of the village and the murder of Zosangkim, a mother of three, shattered the peace that had existed between Meetei and tribal Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The Council stated that the reaction of Kuki-Zo 'village volunteers' on November 11, which involved the burning of shops and residences in Jakuradhor and Borobekra, was sparked by this provocation.
The Council alleged that the deaths of the 10 Kuki-Zo were the result of a deadly plot involving Meetei police commandos and the CRPF posted in Jiribam.
It acknowledged that six Meetei women, including children, also lost their lives in the incident.
Calling for decisive action, the Kuki-Zo Council advocated for the extension of the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) across the entire state, including the valley, to empower security forces to effectively handle potential threats.
It argued that extending AFSPA would provide the necessary authority to safeguard the people.
The Council also expressed serious concern over the lack of transparency regarding the deaths of the 10 Kuki-Zo 'village volunteers' .
It criticised the absence of a preliminary report on their deaths, contrasting it with the completed post-mortem reports of the six Meeteis, which have already been handed over to their families.
The delay in providing post-mortem reports for the Kuki-Zo people has fuelled anger and frustration within the community.
The Kuki-Zo Council warned that if the post-mortem reports are not released within a specified time frame, it would have no choice but to resort to serious agitation to demand justice and accountability.
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