‘Waging war against India’: Kuki leader faces FIR over self-government talk

A suo motu FIR has been registered in Churachandpur police station under sections pertaining to conspiracy for waging war against the government of India, sedition, provocation with intent to cause riot and criminal conspiracy.

On Wednesday, ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing had stated that they will set up a “self government” if its demands are not addressed in two weeks – “whether the central government recognises it or not”.

“It has already been six months but nothing of our demand, that is of separate administration from the Manipur government, has been addressed. So, if the voice that we have raised in the rally is not heard, in a couple of weeks, we will set up our self government whether the central recognises it or not… we will set up a government that will look after all the administration in the Kuki-Zo tribal areas, medical, education, all departments will be there,” he had said.

Following this, the Manipur government had issued a statement that a meeting of “ruling legislators” was held on Thursday, which “strongly condemns the statement of the ITLF”, and that “appropriate legal action” is being initiated against it. Significantly, 10 out of 60 MLAs in Manipur are also from the Kuki-Zomi community – eight of whom are from the BJP and two of whom are ministers. They have not been to the capital Imphal since the start of the ethnic conflict. The 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs have also been pressing the demand for separate administration.

“The recent statement by ITLF has no legal or constitutional basis. This irresponsible statement appears to be motivated and aimed at vitiating and disturbing the law and order situation in the state,” said the government statement.

The ITLF calls itself “a conglomeration of recognised tribes in Lamka” or Churachandpur, and is primarily influential in that district. Its media secretary, Ginza Vualzong, stated that the events of the past six months have made it impossible for the community to trust the Biren Singh-led Manipur government.

“We need to think about our welfare. We need to start our own governing body as our demand for a separate administration will take time. Our MLAs cannot work in Imphal for fear of their lives, same goes with our government officers. We want our 10 MLAs to start working in the hill district headquarters. Our government officers can start working in the hill district for the welfare of the people. We cannot stand still waiting for the government to give us a solution. This is what we mean by self-governance or self-rule,” he had said.

Somorendro Thockchom, media coordinator of Meitei civil society group COCOMI, said the self-rule call “will only worsen the prevailing volatile situation and upset the peace co-existence of the Kuki-Zo people themselves and hinder further settlement of Kukis in Manipur”.