Dialogue must be unconditional : FoH
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 04 2025: The Federation of Haomee (FoH) has categorically stated that dialogues between the Kukis and Meiteis must be free from any pre-conditions and all such dialogues must be preceded by surrender of arms by Kukis and lifting of all types of obstructions on highways.

The dialogue being organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs between Kuki CSOs ad Meitei CSOs on April 5 is a hogwash just to claim that it is doing something, said a press release issued by FoH.

Pointing out that the Kukis have set three pre-conditions for the dialogue which include no movement of Meiteis in Kuki areas, resolution of the current crisis by granting Separate Administration and one year ceasefire agreement, FoH asserted that the scheduled dialogue would not bring anything positive.

If the Kukis have set pre-conditions, Meiteis too must lay down certain pre-conditions like which Kukis should take part in the dialogue, they (Kukis) must accept that Manipur belongs to indigenous communities who have Yek-Salai system and that they came much later.

If any dialogue is held between Kuki CSOs and Meitei CSOs under the pre-conditions set by Kukis, they (Kukis) will assume that the Meiteis have agreed to their pre-conditions and they may take undue advantage of this concession in the future, FoH said.

Instead of engaging with Kuki CSOs in a dialogue, Meitei CSOs must first focus on ensuring free move- ment of all sections of people on all highways and protection of all religious and historical sites of Mei-teis located in the hills, it said.

At the same time, the Government of India must not take Meiteis for fools just because they have given up arms at the call of New Delhi.

The Government of India must first do what it must do against the refusal of Kukis to lay down arms and open highways, it asserted.

If the reports that many people from Kangpokpi and Churachandpur joined the ongoing war in Myanmar is true, it would be better for the Kukis to struggle for their separate administration in Myanmar, FoH said.

In that case, Manipur will be relieved of the burden of parasites, it added.

The Govt of India's refusal to abrogate the SoO pact with refugees from Myanmar has many implications and it has severely affected the indigenous people.

It asked whether par- ticipating in a dialogue process after sidelining the indigenous people will have any meaning.

Comment