The Kuki-Zo forum hit out at leaders and groups dismissing the PUCL findings, accusing critics of ignoring violence and mass displacement of Kukis.
BY PC Bureau
September 3, 2025: The World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC), formerly known as the Kuki-Zo Intellectual Forum, has extended strong support to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) for its recently released report on the ongoing violence in Manipur. The council praised the PUCL for “championing the truth” and documenting human rights violations faced by the Kuki-Zo community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the WKZIC said the PUCL’s findings and recommendations were crucial steps toward addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring accountability for atrocities committed. “We stand in solidarity with PUCL’s commitment to upholding human rights and promoting peace and justice in Manipur,” the council said, urging the Centre and other stakeholders to take immediate action based on the report.
Rebuke to Critics
The WKZIC also launched a sharp counterattack against political leaders, organisations, and individuals who had dismissed the PUCL’s findings. It named several groups and leaders who had called the report “biased” and “politically motivated,” including:
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COCOMI (Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity): accused of vilifying the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate Union Territory under Article 239A, and labelling Kukis as “narco-terrorist groups.” WKZIC hit back, pointing out that Manipur’s largest narcotics firm was allegedly owned by a Meitei capitalist with links to former CM N. Biren Singh.
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Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba: criticised for calling the report “totally wrong, biased, one-sided, baseless, and ungrounded.”
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Former CM N. Biren Singh: accused of trying to “deepen the divide and prolong mistrust” by discrediting the report.
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Human Rights International Freedom (HRIF): alleged the report was “blatantly one-sided” but WKZIC said such dismissal overlooked the suffering of Kuki families displaced from the valley.
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Maheshwar Thounaojam: criticised for demanding legal action against PUCL and rejecting its findings.
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Lok Sabha MP Bimol Akoijam: condemned for terming the report “biased and insensitive” and for allegedly inciting public sentiment against the Kuki-Zo community.
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“Filing FIRs Will Not Bring Peace”
The WKZIC particularly condemned the call by the People’s Alliance for Peace and Progress (PAPP) to file an FIR against PUCL, calling it “illogical and counterproductive.” The council argued that attempts to silence civil liberties organisations and human rights defenders would not resolve the crisis.
READ: MHA, Kuki-Zo Groups to Hold Crucial Talks Ahead of PM Modi’s Manipur Visit
“Peace will never come by filing an FIR upon PUCL. Instead, the report should be seen as an opportunity to acknowledge the truth and pursue accountability,” the WKZIC stated.
The council stressed that the continuing denial of atrocities and suppression of fact-finding efforts risk prolonging violence and mistrust in Manipur. It urged both national and international actors to act on PUCL’s documentation, echoing earlier concerns raised by UN experts about “serious human rights violations” in the state since 2023.
“The world must recognise the suffering of the Kuki-Zo people,” the WKZIC said, adding that the way forward lay in truth-telling, justice, and structural reforms to address the grievances of marginalised communities.
