A pivotal public meeting called by the Kuki-Zo Council will focus on ending hostilities and defining a political path forward. Scheduled for July 19, the gathering comes at a critical juncture in the region’s search for lasting peace.
BY PC Bureau
July 17, 2025 —The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has announced a major Public Consultative Meeting to be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 11:00 AM, at Peace Ground, Tuibong.
The meeting is being viewed as a pivotal moment in the region’s evolving political and security landscape. According to the KZC’s official notice, the central agenda is the “Cessation of Hostilities (Ceasefire) and Other Related Issues.”
The discussions are expected to help crystallize the collective stance of the Kuki-Zo community amid ongoing calls for peace, political recognition, and autonomy.
Speaking to Power Corridors, KZC Chairman Henlenthang Vaipai said similar meetings will be held across all Kuki-Zo-majority districts. “The next meetings will be in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur. Some districts like Chandel and Pherzawl are inaccessible due to flooding, so we’ll wait for things to improve,” he said.
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He emphasized that the Tuibong meeting will serve as a platform for open discussion and clearing up public concerns about the proposed ceasefire. “We will allow people from all walks of life to speak and share their views. After hearing them, we’ll draft a resolution that the people can endorse.”
Vaipai added that once the series of public consultations is complete, the KZC will consolidate the community’s feedback and present it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). “We’re already in touch with the MHA, which has floated this proposal,” he confirmed.
According to sources, the ceasefire proposal is believed to be an initiative of the MHA, which has reportedly urged both Kuki-Zo and Meitei representatives to commit to a non-aggression pact aimed at achieving lasting peace in Manipur.
While the two communities are not in active armed conflict, the proposed agreement would formalize a mutual understanding that neither side will initiate violence, and that all disputes will be addressed through dialogue and peaceful negotiation.
The consultative meeting comes amid continuing negotiations between SoO (Suspension of Operation) signatory groups and the MHA, with multiple rounds of talks reportedly held in New Delhi and Guwahati. The discussions have centered around ceasefire mechanisms, de-escalation in sensitive hill areas, and long-pending demands for political recognition and settlement for the Kuki-Zo community.
Saturday’s event carries added weight as it is being convened by the Kuki-Zo Council, which was officially designated the apex decision-making and representative body of the Kuki-Zo people during a landmark gathering held in Guwahati on May 16, 2025. That meeting brought together Kuki-Zo MLAs, SoO leaders, and major civil society organisations, who jointly mandated the KZC to speak and act on behalf of the entire community.
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In its public notice, the KZC urged all members of the public to attend and participate in large numbers, describing the meeting as a defining moment in the struggle for peace and political dignity. The Council called on the community to come together “in solidarity and shared purpose.”
Given the high stakes and heightened anticipation, Saturday’s meeting is expected to draw a significant turnout, with potential implications for the trajectory of peace negotiations, ethnic reconciliation, and future political alignments in Manipur and the wider Northeast region.
