Indigenous tribals not disturbed: AZO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 17 2023: The All Zeliangrong Organisation (AZO) has taken strong exception to the claim raised by 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs that no tribal is left in Imphal owing to law and order crisis and the subsequent demand of separate administration in a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Speaking to a group of media persons today, AZO, Manipur Valley president Maibon Phaomei said that there is no alarm whatsoever among the indigenous tribals of Manipur who have been settling in the valley districts as raised by the 10 Chin -Kuki MLAs in their memorandum.

Saying that the there is no threat on the lives of indigenous tribals living in the valley districts and question of division among the people based on ethnicity, Maibon maintained that they have no idea which tribes the 10 Chin -Kuki were referring to in the memorandum addressed to the Union Home Minister.

He went on to state that people in valley districts continue to help one another during this tumultuous period.

Claiming that the unrest gripping the State is not a fallout of a tribal issue, Maibon said that they condemn the Chin-Kuki MLAs for depicting the ethnic clash between Meeteis and Kukis as a tribal issue.

Rongmeis and Kabuis settle in different places of valley districts, he said and added that the Zeliangrong people don't endorse the memorandum of the Chin-Kuki MLAs.

Claiming that the act of the Chin-Kuki MLAs was only to mislead the people, Maibon urged all elected representatives not to spread lies to take political mileage.

Truth will always prevail in the long run, he said.

"We all know that the conflict is between Meeteis and Kukis," Maibon said and added that not all tribals in Manipur want establishment of separate establishment in the State nor endorse the demand of the Chin-Kuki MLAs.

There is a possibility of some people believing that all tribals may have fled from the valley districts, Maibon continued and clarified that the Zeliangrong people don't know the tribes which were mentioned in the memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister.

Maibon further stated that separate administration or autonomy may be demanded only by a community or a group of people who have their own land.

Zeliangrong people living in Manipur don't support the demand of separate administration raised by the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs, he clarified.

He then appealed to the State Government to hold a dialogue with the leaders of the parties in conflict to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.

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