Backing the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), the ELNCCA called for dismantling of Kuki SoO camps and condemned the renaming of roads and areas in Naga lands.
BY PC Bureau
July 19, 2025 — The Eastern Liangmai Naga Chief Chairman Association (ELNCCA) has accused Kuki armed groups operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement of territorial encroachment and expansionist activities in Indigenous Naga ancestral lands. In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the ELNCCA expressed solidarity with the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) and endorsed its recent demands to the Government of India.
Describing the situation as “deeply alarming,” the ELNCCA condemned what it called ongoing efforts to rename roads and alter traditional nomenclature in Naga territories, allegedly spearheaded by “certain Kuki elements and government agencies.”
“These actions violate the historical, cultural, and territorial rights of the Naga people. Such unilateral moves, carried out without public consultation or Indigenous consent, must be condemned and reversed,” the statement read.
ELNCCA’s Demands to the Centre
The ELNCCA outlined several key demands: Immediate dismantling of all Kuki SoO camps and what it described as “militant training centres” allegedly situated on Naga land; An end to the renaming of roads and locations in Naga-inhabited areas without local consultation; A moratorium on the creation of new SoO camps, especially those near strategic routes such as the proposed Haflong–Imphal National Highway.
The association also urged Kuki civil bodies—including Young Kuki and the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC)—to avoid issuing “provocative public statements,” warning that such rhetoric could jeopardize the fragile peace in the region.
The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) on Saturday declared an indefinite bandh in the foothills of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, protesting against the proposed construction of the German and Tiger roads, the presence of illegal Kuki militant camps in the region. pic.twitter.com/0lBn9Qxf4J
— Jon Suante (@jon_suante) July 19, 2025
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Citing historical context, the ELNCCA claimed that Naga ancestors had once provided refuge to Kuki communities fleeing from Burma, allowing them temporary settlement. However, the group alleged that this past goodwill had now been “betrayed” through a “pattern of land encroachment and territorial aggression.”
“There shall be no more compromises regarding our land, identity, or dignity,” the group declared, while calling on the central government to take “concrete steps to prevent further tensions.”
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Though the press release concluded with a call for peace and justice, it carried a stern warning:
“Any attempt to manipulate, distort, or expand territorial claims under the guise of peace will not be tolerated and will be firmly resisted.”
FNCC Declares Indefinite Bandh
The ELNCCA’s statement comes amid rising tensions in the region. On Friday, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) declared an indefinite bandh beginning at midnight on July 18, 2025. The bandh aims to prevent the movement of Kuki groups through Naga-inhabited foothill areas.
The decision—detailed in a letter dated July 17 and signed by FNCC Secretary B. Robin Kabui—highlights three major concerns:
- The construction of the German and Tiger roads through Naga ancestral lands without proper consultation;
- The continued presence of Kuki militant camps under the SoO framework;
- Rampant poppy cultivation, which the FNCC alleges is fueling addiction and environmental degradation.
“We remain hopeful that through collective vigilance and action, we can chart a path forward that ensures peace, respect, and justice for our people,” the FNCC stated.
