ZSF, ITLF, CoTU give shutdown calls
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 27 2024:
Expressing discontentment over the circulation of alleged fake news regarding the infiltration of 900 militants from Myanmar and hidden agenda, Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF) has called for a 12 hour (6am to 6pm) total shutdown in Churachandpur district on September 28 as Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) also declared similar agitation on the same day.
In separate statements, both ZSF and ITLF advised the people not to travel outside Kuki-Zo area till September 29 as well as announced closure of borders, schools, institutions and offices as pre-emptive measures against possible attack on Kuki-Zo people along with advising all volunteers and citizens to maintain high alert.
The ITLF informed medical teams and ambulances (private and government) to be on standby till September, 29 .
ZSF also urged the public to support the total shutdown on Saturday, reasoning that agitation has been necessitated to denounce not only circulation of fake news about the ingress of 900 militants with the ulterior motive to defame and vilify the Zo (Zomi-Kuki-Hmar) people and project them as militants but also as a precaution against the true intentions of the state government and armed Meetei groups who intend to use the fake news as a pretext to launch well planned and large scale attacks in the hill districts inhabited by the Zo people.
The need to take precaution is felt even more given that September 28 is the day the 3rd session of the Manipur Assembly resolved to oppose the Merger of Manipur into the Union of India (Merger Agreement in 1949), it added.
On the other-hand, a day massive protest rally on Thursday, Kuki-Zo community in Kangpokpi district has announced imposition of two-day total shutdown to denounce alleged false propaganda campaign.
The total shutdown is being imposed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) from 6 am Friday, bringing businesses and private institutions including schools to a halt while vehicular movement, except for exempted services, was completely restricted.
Volunteers mainly Kuki-Zo women monitored key areas including National Highway 2 at Kangpokpi district headquarters and Gam-giphai.
Medical services, airport operations, religious activities and media are exempted from the purview of the shutdown but their movement were closely monitored, requiring valid documentation for passage.
As tension between Kuki-Zo and Meetei communities remain high, the demand for a separate administration for Kuki-Zo community continues to grow with reconciliation appearing increasingly distant.
On Thursday, thousands of Kuki-Zo people from across Kangpokpi district, gathered for a massive protest rally to voice their opposition against periodic propaganda campaigns " by the state government and the Meetei community.
The protesters called on union home minister Amit Shah to intervene, accusing the state government of an "ethno-centric" campaign against their community.
Organised by CoTU, the rally saw participants march from Nute Kailhang to the office of the Kangpokpi DC, where they submitted a memorandum urging the Central government to address false narratives propagated by the state government and local media which brand Kuki-Zo as "narco-terrorists", "poppy planters", and "illegal immigrants" .
The memorandum also condemned statements by security advisor Kuldiep Singh about a purported influx of Kuki militants from Myanmar, calling it part of an ongoing narrative against the community.
They also expressed concern over valley-based insurgent groups and accused certain factions within the Meetei community of promoting secessionist movements, which they argue pose a threat to India's national security.
The memorandum further emphasised the need for the Centre to expedite Suspension of Operations (SoO) negotiations with Kuki-Zo militant groups stating that prompt action is essential to prevent further victimisation of the community and to promote lasting peace in the region.
Additionally, they also called upon the security advisor to maintain neutrality in managing the ethnic conflict and stressed the importance of ensuring that security operations do not unjustly target any particular community.
CoTU spokesperson Ng Lun Kipgen urged the Centre to take immediate action, hoping that home minister Amit Shah would respond positively to their appeal.
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