The Kuki Chiefs Association has criticized the Indian government’s decision to push forward with border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, stating that it disregards the centuries-old connection of the Kuki-Zo people across both sides. KCAM insists that instead of imposing restrictions, the government should focus on resolving the ethnic conflict and ensuring justice for the displaced community.
BY PC Bureau
The Kuki Chiefs Association Manipur (KCAM) has strongly opposed the proposed border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, warning that it poses a grave threat to the cultural, historical, and traditional rights of indigenous tribal communities, particularly the Kuki-Zo people.
These communities, which have maintained deep socio-cultural ties across the border for generations, now face the risk of being permanently severed from their heritage and kin, it said.
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According to KCAM, the Kuki-Zo people share a common identity that transcends national borders, with centuries-old traditions, languages, and religious practices uniting them across the Indo-Myanmar region. The proposed fencing, it said, would disrupt this unity, restrict free movement, and further divide families that have already been separated by artificial national boundaries. The association stresses that such an action would jeopardize the survival and cultural integrity of the Kuki-Zo communities.
India has proposed to construct aa 1,643-km fence along its border with Myanmar to address security concerns, smuggling, and human trafficking. The $3.1 billion project, slated for completion within 10 years, includes provisions for controlled cross-border movement through biometric-enabled gates.
 Prioritise peace first:
KCAM also highlighted that the fencing initiative comes at a time when the Kuki-Zo people are already facing violence and displacement due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. They argue that the border fencing would worsen an already fragile situation, shifting focus away from the real humanitarian crisis and allowing the Manipur State Government to evade responsibility for the violence against their community.
The association has called on the government to prioritize peace, justice, and reconciliation over border fencing. Instead of deepening existing divides, KCAM urges authorities to address the ongoing violence, provide justice to the victims, and ensure lasting security for the displaced Kuki-Zo population. They argue that the fencing project would only further marginalize their community, which is already facing systematic persecution under the current state administration.
In its statement, KCAM has also appealed to the Government of India to reconsider the fencing project and focus on addressing the humanitarian crisis affecting the Kuki-Zo people. Additionally, they have urged the international community to take immediate notice of the situation and step in to help resolve the root causes of the ongoing conflict.
Concluding the statement, KCAM Secretary M. Thangboi Haokip reiterated that the Kuki-Zo people seek peace, protection, and justice—not further division, displacement, and marginalization.
What’s Kuki Chiefs Association?
KCAM is an organization representing the traditional chiefs of the Kuki-Zo community, primarily in Manipur. It’s aim is to safeguard the cultural, political, and social interests of the Kuki-Zo people, particularly in matters related to land, governance, and community welfare.
As custodians of customary law, Kuki chiefs have historically governed their villages based on indigenous traditions and legal systems. The association works to uphold and protect these governance structures while also advocating for the rights and interests of the Kuki-Zo community, especially in issues related to land ownership, border policies, and ethnic identity. It represents the voice of Kuki tribal leadership in interactions with the government, policymakers, and international bodies, particularly in times of conflict or crisis.
The Kuki Chiefs Association also plays a key role in mediating disputes within Kuki villages and fostering unity among the larger tribal community in Manipur and beyond. In recent years, the organization has been at the forefront of opposition to the proposed Indo-Myanmar border fencing, arguing that it would sever the historical and social ties of the Kuki-Zo people living on both sides of the border.
There are multiple branches of KCA operating in different districts of Manipur and neighboring states, with the Kuki Chiefs Association Manipur (KCAM) being one of the most prominent. The KCA remains a powerful tribal institution, particularly in the context of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, where it has been vocal about the violence and displacement affecting the Kuki-Zo people.
