The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has strongly condemned COCOMI’s recent statements, labeling them as a reaffirmation of their ethno-centric and hegemonic stance against the minority Kuki-Zo community. CoTU accuses COCOMI of being a mouthpiece for extremist groups responsible for past violence and warns against their continued propaganda.
BY PC Bureau
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), representing the Kuki-Zo community, has issued a strong rebuttal to the recent statements made by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) during its 22nd Remembrance Day Observance at the Martyr Cemetery, Phaijang. CoTU has accused COCOMI of perpetuating an ethno-centric narrative and being a key player in the ongoing persecution of the Kuki-Zo community since the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023.
According to CoTU, valley-based organizations such as COCOMI serve as the ideological mouthpiece for Meitei supremacists and have actively supported the systematic displacement and violence against the Kuki-Zo people. CoTU further alleged that COCOMI’s representations to the Union Government of India are aligned with the demands of the armed militia group Arambai Tenggol, rather than reflecting the sentiments of the broader valley population.
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Allegations Against COCOMI and Armed Militias
CoTU pointed out that the people in the valley had already rejected the fascist ideals propagated by Arambai Tenggol during the 2024 Parliamentary Elections, despite former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh positioning himself as their self-styled “General.” On January 24, 2024, valley-elected representatives and the then-Member of Parliament were allegedly coerced into signing an Oath of Allegiance to Arambai Tenggol, with a charter of demands subsequently submitted by COCOMI to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Government of India.
“It is deeply concerning that COCOMI, an organization that represents an armed militia, now seeks to claim moral high ground while openly declaring war against the Kuki-Zo community,” CoTU stated.
Call for a Separate Administration
CoTU was established in response to the May 3, 2023, violence to safeguard the political aspirations and security of the Kuki-Zo people against what it describes as the tyranny of Meitei supremacists. The organization reiterated that while the Kuki-Zo community seeks freedom within the constitutional framework of India, elements within the Meitei community have actively pursued secessionist tendencies.
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“The nation must recognize the fundamental difference between the Kuki-Zo people, who wish to remain within India with constitutional protections, and Meitei factions advocating for secession,” CoTU emphasized.
CoTU’s Eight-Point Demand
In light of ongoing ethnic tensions, CoTU has put forth the following demands to the Indian government:
- Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo Community – Acknowledgment and implementation of a distinct administrative unit within the Indian Union to ensure the safety and political rights of the Kuki-Zo people.
- Immediate Withdrawal of State-Sponsored Forces – Removal of biased security personnel who have allegedly facilitated violence against the Kuki-Zo community.
- Permanent Rehabilitation of Displaced Kuki-Zo Populations – Safe resettlement and reconstruction of homes and villages destroyed during the conflict.
- Legal Action Against Perpetrators of Ethnic Cleansing – Prosecution of individuals and organizations responsible for inciting violence against the Kuki-Zo.
- Recognition of the Ethnic Conflict as Genocide – Official acknowledgment of the systematic violence against the Kuki-Zo as an act of ethnic cleansing.
- Implementation of Special Protections Under the Indian Constitution – Legislative measures to ensure the long-term security and autonomy of Kuki-Zo communities.
- Disarmament and Disbandment of Armed Militias – Immediate action against groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun.
- Fair Political Representation – Equitable participation of Kuki-Zo leaders in governance and decision-making at the state and central levels.
As tensions remain high in Manipur, CoTU has urged the Indian government to intervene decisively and uphold the constitutional rights of the Kuki-Zo people. “Our demand for separate administration is not born out of vengeance but out of necessity. It is the only viable solution for a peaceful and just future,” CoTU stated.
The organization has called upon national and international human rights bodies to take note of the crisis and ensure that the Kuki-Zo community is protected from further persecution.
