Many wrote to Imphal Times urging to avoid using of ‘Kuki-Zo’ label for Zo/Zomi people

After the Thadou Inpi Manipur had asserted that “Kuki” is a political ideology and that the Thadou community has no affiliation with the Kuki identity, Imphal Times has received over two dozen emails from individuals identifying themselves as members of the Zo or Zomi communities. The messages called on the newspaper to refrain from using the term “Kuki-Zo” in its reporting and to avoid grouping the Zo or Zomi people under the Kuki identity.
According to the contents of the emails, the Zo people, also known as Zomi, do not identify themselves as either “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo.” The term “Kuki-Zo” was described as a politically constructed label that, according to the senders, only came into public usage on May 3, 2025. They maintained that lumping all non-Naga tribal communities under the term “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo” was not only misleading but also offensive, as it disregarded the distinct historical and cultural identity of the Zo people.
The correspondents stressed that the Zo community possesses a unique socio-political and cultural heritage, a fact which has been acknowledged by various organisations including the Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC). They expressed concern that mislabeling their identity would amount to a violation of journalistic ethics and a failure in ensuring fair and accurate representation.
They urged the publication to respect the distinct identity of the Zo or Zomi people and to uphold journalistic integrity by adopting appropriate and respectful terminology in future reporting.