Imphal: An organisation representing the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Tuesday said members of the community will not take part in the formation of the state government, reiterating their long-standing demand for a separate administrative arrangement.
In a statement issued after a general meeting in Churachandpur, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) said its Governing Council, comprising representatives of all constituent bodies, reviewed the prevailing political, social and security situation in the state before arriving at the decision.
The council said it unanimously reaffirmed its demand for a separate administration in the form of a Union Territory under the Constitution, citing what it described as the collective sentiment that the Kuki-Zo people can no longer coexist with the Meitei community.
“The Kuki-Zo people cannot and shall not participate in the formation of the Government of Manipur,” the statement said, adding that the decision reflects the current ground realities following prolonged ethnic unrest.
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The council also made it clear that if any individual from the community chooses to take part in the government formation process, such an act would be in a personal capacity and would not carry the endorsement or responsibility of the Kuki-Zo Council.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February last year. The state has witnessed sustained ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hill-based Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023, leaving at least 260 people dead and thousands displaced.
