Manipur: Churachandpur Tribal Outfit Urges Kuki Zo Council to Avoid Zomi Tribe Areas

PTI,  Imphal, Aug 5 :  Manipur's Churachandpur has called on the Kuki Zo Council, an association of indigenous people, to refrain from operating in Zomi-majority areas of the district. The organization emphasized that it does not recognize the legitimacy of the term "Kuki Zo."

In a statement, the Zomi Council, the apex body representing the tribe, said it had learned that certain authorities in the central government had invited a particular civil society organization from the Manipur hills to discreetly discuss the issue of reopening national highways for free access. The Zomi Council stated that any discussions on this matter must involve their participation and that of its affiliated bodies. Without their inclusion, any arrangement would be considered "obsolete and untenable."

The statement also recalled that the Zomi Council had rejected the term "Kuki Zo" as a legitimate identity in May 2024. As a result, the council made it clear that any organization bearing the name "Kuki Zo Council" stands rejected and is unwelcome in all Zomi-inhabited areas, particularly within Churachandpur district and Lamka township.

The Zomi Council further urged the Kuki Zo Council to establish its office only in areas where it is accepted. The council reaffirmed its commitment to stand by its nine constituent tribes and continue working to safeguard their security, dignity, and well-being.