Imphal: Manipur state cabinet, in an emergency meeting, on Tuesday decided to recommend declaration of the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) “as an unlawful association/organization under section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. An FIR had already been lodged against the organization on Monday, noted the cabinet.
The decision came in response to a 24.10.2023 statement of WKZIC calling upon the Kuki-Zo community that during this November, before the harvesting season, the community “will face another war; and arms and ammunition should therefore be in sufficient stock.”
The council further informed that the youth volunteers would be the ones going to face the war on the frontlines, and that “its national army/UG groups will join the youth volunteers only in critical situations, citing that this would be because Kuki National army/UG groups would not be able to join the war freely in view of SOO agreement.”
The statement further informed that its national volunteers shall be “equipped with the best arms and if required, ammunition will be supplied without limit.”
Taking serious note of the WKZIC statement, the Youth of Manipur (YOM) an influential body consisting of youth, in a release earlier, had asked what action will the government of Manipur take against the said council.
YOM statement also pointed out that the government had on October 11 and 17 issued different notifications, advising people to refrain from making provocative statements which can create tension between the people, disturb the State’s unity and integrity and pose threat to the internal and National security.
It may be mentioned that in a June 29 memo submitted to the secretary general of the United Nations, WKZIC requested creation of a Kuki State, Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Bangladesh and Mizoram (India) and Kuki Hills in outer Manipur.
“When Manipur merged with India, the tribal chiefs and their territories were not covered under the ‘Manipur Merger Agreement”, the memo mentioned, adding that the Manipur government encroached on tribal lands under the guise of protecting reserved forests, protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries and curbing poppy plantation, while also misusing the MLR&LR Acts, 1975 to grab indigenous tribal lands.
