Haomee Youth Front warns against internal division, calls for united stand

In a strongly worded statement, the Haomee Youth Front has asserted that this is not the time for internal discord among indigenous communities but a decisive moment to unite against what it described as sustained threats to Manipur’s territorial and demographic integrity.
The organisation stated that the indigenous Yek-Salai communities of Kangleipak/Manipur have coexisted for generations, bound by shared ancestry, culture and history, collectively safeguarding the land. It alleged that following Manipur’s merger with the Indian Union, sections of Kuki groups who entered the state from outside have been responsible for escalating violence, engaging in poppy cultivation, facilitating drug networks and attempting to alter the historical narrative of the land to stake territorial claims.
Referring to the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, the Front claimed that the conflict was not initiated by the Meetei community but was triggered by armed elements from outside. It further alleged that recent incidents, including arson attacks on Tangkhul houses in Litan, reflect a continuing pattern of provocation and aggression.
The Haomee Youth Front also raised concern over alleged cross-border militant activities, claiming that armed groups operating from bases in Myanmar have been targeting indigenous communities. It questioned what it termed as the silence of both the Government of India and the State Government in addressing these developments.
The organisation cautioned against what it described as attempts to dilute or redefine the identity of indigenous people under broader political narratives. It warned that any move to equate recently settled populations with indigenous communities would have far-reaching consequences for Manipur’s future.
Calling for a united front, the Haomee Youth Front urged all indigenous communities to close ranks, resist divisive forces and collectively defend the land, identity and political rights of the people of Manipur.