Plea by Civil Society Groups and Indigenous Leaders for Withdrawal of Meitei Security Personnel from Moreh

Even as Manipur continues to witness incidents of ethnic religious violence for nearly the last 3 months, Kuki civil society groups have expressed their concern and horror at the attempt by the state government of Manipur of sending Meitei dominated State Forces to towns predominantly inhabited by Kuki-Zo tribals.

In a press statements released on July 29 by the Kuki Chiefs’ Association (KCA), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), and Kuki Women Union & Human Rights (KWU&HR), all Tengnoupal district, jointly raised their apprehensions and fear at this action of the state government.

Concurrently, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) wrote a letter on July 30, addressed to Mr. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister submitted through the Deputy Commissioner of Lamka, Churachandpur requesting the withdrawal of Manipur security personnel from Moreh.

Both the press statement and the letter are reactions and trepidation of the Kuki-Zo tribal leaders over such a decision by the government.

The press statement questions the intentions of the government and calls it “life-threatening” for the Kuki-Zo tribals and highlights the instances during the violence when the Arambai Tengol & Meitei Leepun disguised themselves as commandos or other state forces and attacked the Kuki-Zo villages and individuals.

The statement and the letter particularly highlighted the involvement of Meitei dominated state forces in leading the Meitei mob in attacking the Kuki-Zo tribals in the present violence (that started May 3).

The organisations through the statement and the letter have drawn the attention of the concerned authorities towards the consequences that may arise from the decision of deploying State forces – which are predominantly Meitei in the Kuki-Zo areas.

In the letter to the Union Home Minister, the ITLF stated that majority of civil and police officers including the Additional District Superintendent of Police, Sub-divisional police officer, and officer-in-charge in Tengnoupal district are all from the Meitei community.

The statement warned that such a decision “would rather escalate tension instead of maintaining Law and Order situation.”

The Kuki-Zo tribal women of Tengnoupal district have been holding peaceful protests since July 28 by blocking the Imphal-Moreh National Highway-102 fearing the movement of forces towards Moreh and other parts of the district.

“This is why tribal women in Moreh are blocking the national highway in an effort to stop state forces from entering the border town,” read the letter.

A Christian leader of Manipur, who wished to remain anonymous, informed Christian Today that “Though people at Tengnoupal and Moreh were able to stop the security forces who were forcefully entering on Friday (July 28), there are reports that extra force is planned to be sent to forcefully enter Moreh.”

The ITLF demanded that “to maintain fairness and neutrality all Meitei security personnel” be withdrawn from Moreh.

The letter ended with a warning that if their request is not met by July 31, 6 pm they would be forced “to start a public agitation in all tribal districts.”

The press statement is undersigned by the President of KCA, Tengnoupal district – LS Seikhofang Balte, President of KSO, Tengnoupal district – Thangboi Lhungdim, President of KWUB&HR, Tergnoupal district – Ch Nemneichong Mate and the ITLF letter to the Union Home Minister is undersigned by the Chairman of ITLF – Pagin Haokip and Secretary (ITLF) – Muan Tombing.

Moreh is a small international border town located on the Indo–Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district of the Indian state of Manipur and is on the Asian Highway (NH102).