Hundreds of the tribal Kuki-Zo people took to the streets across the hill districts of Manipur, seeking a Union Territory (UT) for the community and a “political solution” to end the ongoing ethnic conflict within the state.
The protest was led by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF). They said that the formation of UT with the legislature under Article 239A could be the solution to the conflict.
Protestors demanded the Centre’s intervention to stop the ongoing conflict that has resulted in the deaths of at least 221 people and the displacement of more than 50,000 people.
The tribal group also asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to expedite their demands for a “political solution” in a memorandum.
Protesters were holding placards with several slogans written over them, including “No Political Solution, No Peace,” “Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo People, Right Now!” “Forced Union With Meiteis Will Not Last,” and “We Want UT Under Article 239A.”.
Similar rallies were also held in Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, and Pherzawl districts on the same day.
ITLF, an umbrella group for tribal bodies, said that the government should speed up the process of finding a political solution to the year-long ethnic conflict that has marred the state.
“After more than a year of killings and displacements, there is no improvement in the security situation, with citizens at risk of being killed every day. In the past few weeks, two tribals were killed by Meitei miscreants in Jiribam district. Another was abducted, and his whereabouts are still unknown,” the organisation said.