The Kuki Chiefs’ Association, Manipur (KCAM) on Sunday stated that it condemns the recent order from the Manipur state government, department of Tribal Affairs and Hills, demanding detailed documentation of their villages and hills from 1964 to the present.
KCAM calls for strict compliance with the directive that no Kuki-Zo chief shall submit any documents or papers to the state government that seek to undermine the traditional governance and the rights inherent to it, stated a release issued by its secretary external Letkhosei Mate.
“KCAM urges all Kuki-Zo people to stand united in defiance of this unjust order but reaffirm our commitment to the urgent pursuit of a Separate Administration - a Union Territory with Legislature, that respects our autonomy, identity, and most importantly our rights and privileges as equal citizens of the country. We urge all Kuki-Zo individuals and leaders to rally together and resist these discriminatory measures,” it stated.
KCAM views the order issued by the state government as not only insensitive but also a manifestation of discrimination and injustices against its community, it mentioned.
It stated that the timing of this order is particularly troubling, coming at a moment when the Kuki-Zo people are facing existential threats. It alleged that the order seeks to undermine the chieftainship and the associated rights that have been integral to the identity and governance of the Kuki-Zo people.
