Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in Mizoram a northeast state of India have declared their support to the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) in Manipur northeast state of India.
According to a report Hejang Haokip, Chairman of KSDC and some leaders arrived in Mizoram and met local NGOs – Zo Reunification Organization (ZORO), Mizo Student Union (MSU), Mizo Hmeichhia Insuihkhawm Pawl(MHIP), Mizo Upa Pawl (MUP) and Mizo Chief Council (MCC) on 6 February at the Baptist Hall.
“The Kuki tribe and Zo tribe are of the same origin. The word ‘Kuki’ is from the Bengali language. In fact, Kuki is also the Zo tribe, so we have supported the movement of the Kukis,” said Pu Chhuana, secretary of ZORO.
Pu Hejang Haokip, chairman of KSDC said that after 1980 the Naga tribe had dominated Kuki areas in Manipur sate and between 1992 to 1997 Naga insurgency group NSCN I/M had burnt 350 villages of Kukis and had killed more than 1000 innocent people. We had reported this to the Indian government, but there has been no response. That’s why we have organised national armed groups to protect ourselves.
Although the Indian government and the Kuki National Organisation had signed an agreement on suspension of operation in 2005, there has been no political meeting till 2010. Therefore, KSDC was formed in 2010 demanding a Kuki state.
At the same time, Pu Malsawma Kawlni, President of ZORO also added that they were not aware about the destruction and burning of Kuki villages by Naga armed groups but it is very disappointing. It should not happen again in the future and for that they have sent some representatives from Mizoram NGOs in order to resolve the problem between Kukis and Nagas.
There are 13 lakhs from the Meitei tribe, 7 lakhs from the Kuki tribe and 3 lakhs from the Naga tribe of the 23-lakh population in Manipur state. From the historical point of view most of the inhabited areas in Manipur state are owned by Kuki tribes, said an official of KSDC.