KOHUR warns that engaging Meitei armed groups as stakeholders instead of holding them accountable sets a dangerous precedent. “Without accountability, there is no guarantee that such looting will not recur,” the group stated.
BY PC Bureau
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has flayed the government’s recent peace initiatives, calling them a superficial effort that disregards the need for justice. While acknowledging the proactive steps taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Governor of Manipur, KOHUR argued that any attempt at peace without addressing past atrocities will be futile.
“This so-called peace process seems more like an attempt to pacify certain communities while forcing reconciliation upon victims who have yet to see justice,” a Kohur statement read. “The initiative conveniently ignores the grave atrocities committed against the Kuki-Zo people, making it clear that justice is being sidelined in favor of a forced truce.”
The organization expressed concerns over the surrender of looted firearms, stating that the process has been executed in a way that sets a dangerous precedent. “The Meitei community looted large portions of state armories and used them to carry out ethnic cleansing. Yet, those responsible walk free. There have been no significant arrests or deterrence mechanisms to prevent such acts from happening again,” KOHUR stated.
Instead of taking action against armed Meitei groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, the government is engaging with them as stakeholders, the rights group alleged. “By treating the perpetrators as negotiation partners rather than holding them accountable, the government is reinforcing the belief that these groups can act with impunity,” the statement added.
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The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has acknowledged the efforts of the Union Home Minister and the Governor of Manipur to restore peace in the region.
However,KOHUR emphasizes that peace without justice is meaningless,highlighting the need for accountability and… pic.twitter.com/3ko3hP1sNC— LAMGUNBECK (@Bec_Eimi) March 2, 2025
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KOHUR also took issue with the selective imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), noting that it has been enforced in the Kuki-dominated hill areas but not in most of the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley. “This raises serious questions. If the valley was the epicenter of the orchestrated attacks on the periphery, why wasn’t AFSPA imposed there long ago? Is this selective enforcement for electoral gains?” the organization questioned.
Furthermore, the group accused the then Biren Singh-led state government of active participation in the violence, stating that its involvement alongside Meitei armed groups and valley-based insurgents is well-documented.
“The Meitei community has shown no remorse and continues to spread false narratives about the conflict. Is the government turning a blind eye to these facts, or is it deliberately siding with the perpetrators?” KOHUR asked. “True reconciliation can only happen if the Meiteis acknowledge their role in this violence and ensure justice for the Kuki-Zo victims.”
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The organization expressed frustration with the slow pace of judicial processes, pointing out that the report from the Justice Ajay Lamba Commission, established by the Ministry of Home Affairs, has yet to be made public. Additionally, a Supreme Court-monitored judicial inquiry has yielded no known arrests or investigations into the mass violence and sexual crimes committed against Kuki-Zo civilians.
Adding to their grievances, KOHUR condemned the protection allegedly being offered to former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while Kuki-Zo volunteers defending their communities continue to face legal action. “This is a grave injustice. The people protecting their homes are being pursued while the chief orchestrator of this crisis is shielded,” the statement said.
The organization also raised concerns over government plans to dismantle defensive bunkers and reopen roads, warning that such actions could leave their communities vulnerable to renewed attacks.
“If the government claims it can now secure buffer zones, why did it fail to do so when our villages were being burned? The cries of our slaughtered brethren still haunt us. If the Indian government could not protect them then, the least it owes them now is justice.”
KOHUR warned that many within the Kuki-Zo community no longer trust the government’s intentions, citing former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai’s claim that the BJP-led central government has taken a partisan stance. “Our youth, who have trained to defend their land, cannot be expected to immediately lay down arms and return to normal life while justice remains elusive,” the organization stated. “An imposed peace without real solutions will only serve as a catalyst for further violence.”
The organization has called on the government to publish a white paper detailing the arms looted from state armories and police stations in both Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas, clarifying the number and types of weapons recovered. “Unofficial reports suggest that 90% of arms looted from police stations in Kuki-Zo areas have been recovered, yet there is no similar transparency regarding looted arms in Meitei-dominated areas. Why this disparity?” KOHUR demanded.
Additionally, KOHUR is demanding that the government take immediate action against Meitei armed groups, including Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and YUM, which they claim act as a private militia for Chief Minister Biren Singh. “The government’s failure to recover sophisticated weapons linked to these groups suggests complicity,” the statement alleged.
The organization is also calling for the immediate cancellation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Meitei insurgent groups, particularly the UNLF-P, which it accuses of murdering Kuki-Zo civilians and burning villages. “The continued existence of these agreements proves that the government is not serious about justice,” KOHUR argued.
KOHUR has urged the government to respond formally to their demands, emphasizing that any lasting peace must be rooted in justice and accountability. “Peace and reconciliation cannot be imposed; they must come through genuine justice,” the statement concluded.
DEMANDS
- Comprehensive White Paper on Looted Arms: We call on the government to publish a detailed report on arms looted from state armories and police stations in both Kuki-Zo and Meitei districts, specifying the types and quantities of weapons recovered in each area.
- Accountability for Armed Meitei Groups: We demand transparency regarding the failure to recover sophisticated firearms linked to Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and YUM, allegedly Biren Singh’s private militia. The government’s inaction raises concerns about its true intentions and whether it is enabling these groups to target the Kuki-Zo community.
- Immediate Cancellation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement with Meitei Armed
Groups: The SoO agreement with Meitei groups, including UNLF- P who are responsible for the murder of innocent Kuki-Zo civilians and the burning of villages must be revoked.
- Transparency in Recovery Efforts: Unofficial reports suggest that 90% of arms looted from police stations in Kuki-Zo areas have been recovered. We demand the same level of scrutiny and action regarding looted arms in Meitei-dominated areas.
