Kukis observe ‘Separation Day’ in strife-torn Manipur’s tribal areas

Amid prevailing tensions in Manipur, the Kuki-Zo community on Friday observed, what it calls 'Separation Day', by implementing a complete shutdown in all tribal dominated areas in Sadar Hills of Kangpokpi district.

A spokesperson for the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) of Sadar Hills, a key tribal body, which had given a call for the shutdown, informed The Tribune that "It (shutdown) was resounding in all Kuki-Zo dominated areas in Sadar Hills Kangpokpi".

In a public notice issued on October 1, CoTU had reiterated that the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur which had erupted on May 3, 2023, remains unresolved even after nearly three years, and held the former BJP-led state government under N Biren Singh accountable for the state’s deepest ethnic divide.

It had given a call for a 12-hour complete shutdown along National Highway-2 (NH-2), a crucial lifeline route in Manipur, from 6 am to 6pm on October 3. As part of the observance of Separation Day, all business establishments, academic institutions, and markets along the NH-2 route, which is considered a key lifeline of the state, were asked to remain shut.

The CoTU spokesperson said that the shutdown call was a success, while further informing that for the past nearly three years, the 3rd of every month has been observed as a day to mark the Kuki-Zo community's eviction from Imphal valley and to pay homage to all the fallen men and women and those who were butchered in Imphal valley on May 3, 2023.

However, after completion of two years last May, the initial "Remembrance Day" was commemorated as "Separation Day", to show that the Kukis have already been separated both physically and demographycally.

"Normally, during the said observance of every month, all business establishments and academic institutions remain closed. However on Friday, during the Separation Day Observance, NH-2 was also shut down to remind the apathetic attitude of the Central government towards Kuki-Zo aspirations for freedom from oppression and subjugation from the majoritarian Meitei community," the CoTU spokesperson said.

On Friday, the Kuki-Zo community observed Separation Day at the Martyr's Cemetery Phaijang in Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district, reaffirming their demand for separate administration from Manipur with a 12-hour total shutdown and solemn commemorations.

The event, marked by floral tributes and gun salutes, saw the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) urging the community's 10 MLAs to maintain their boycott of the Manipur Legislative Assembly until the Government of India addresses their political demands.

CoTU reaffirmed the eight-point public resolution adopted on the 22nd Remembrance Day, asserting that "No Kuki Zo would remain complacent in our movement until our political aspirations are fulfilled by the Government of India".

The resolution outlines several non-negotiable positions. The community declared there would be no free movement for the Meitei community in Kuki-Zo inhabited areas and pledged to use democratic means to achieve their goal of separate administration.