IT News
Imphal, Sept 5:
In a memorandum addressed to the President of India, the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) reiterated its earlier appeals to various government departments and political parties, raising concerns on behalf of the Kuki-Zo community. However, much of the content within the memorandum appears to be historically and factually incorrect. Historical records indicate that there was never a Kuki Rebellion against the British as claimed by the council. Despite this, the WKZIC attempted to highlight the supposed historical role of the Kuki community as freedom fighters, falsely citing their resistance against British colonial forces during the 1860s and again during World War I, which they referred to as the “Kuki Rising” (1917–1919). They also inaccurately referenced alleged involvement in the Indian National Army under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during World War II.
The memorandum further detailed grievances regarding persecution and genocide purportedly faced by the Kuki community, claiming significant oppression in the 1960s, 1990s, and the ongoing Manipur crisis. However, many of these assertions lack credible historical backing and appear exaggerated to suit the council’s narrative.
The memorandum also included claims of the death of 191 innocent women, children, and elderly individuals during the violence in Manipur, along with the destruction of 200 villages and the burning of 256 out of 365 churches. It asserted that 50,000 people had been displaced into camps, with another 50,000 scattered across various cities, though these figures are widely disputed and appear inflated without sufficient evidence to support them. But the fact is that many of Churches destroyed during the crisis belong to Meitei Community. And as many as 10,000 people from Churachandpur alone has been driven out and destroyed all their houses. And among the 50000 displaced people over half of them are Meiteis.
The WKZIC went on to accuse the majority Meitei community of declaring war on the Kuki people, referencing controversial statements from Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and other prominent Meitei leaders in June 2023. The council alleged that 5,000 arms and 600,000 rounds of ammunition were distributed from the Manipur State Armoury in June 2023, aimed at annihilating the Kuki people. However the memorandum did not mention the use of sophisticated foreign made machine guns and drone technology use by the Kuki militants. Violation of SoO ground rule was also not mention.
The memorandum also claimed that Kuki volunteers were using traditional explosives, allegedly similar to those employed during a fabricated resistance against the British in 1917–1919, to defend their land and people. The council even pointed to a crowd-funding initiative led by a climate activist to acquire thermal drones, attempting to link it to the ongoing conflict—yet again raising questions about the validity of these claims.
Finally, the memorandum concluded by requesting the President of India to intervene in the violence in Manipur, calling for the “total separation of the Meitei and Kuki communities” under the Indian Constitution. It framed this demand as part of the Kuki community’s long-standing desire for peace and dignity. However, the numerous historical inaccuracies and exaggerated claims present throughout the document undermine the seriousness of their appeal, casting doubt on the legitimacy of their demands.
