Calling for a Union Territory with legislature, the ZCA says the Meitei-Zo divide is now a permanent reality born out of violence and displacement.
BY PC Bureau
July 1, 2025 — The Zomi Chiefs’ Association (ZCA) has expressed grave concern over what it calls “unverified and divisive rumours” suggesting that the Government of India may make the extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement conditional on allowing free movement across the state of Manipur. The statement, dated June 30, warns that such a move—reportedly linked to shifting or reducing SoO camps—would be seen as a “serious breach of trust” and a violation of the Indian Constitution.
The ZCA said it “categorically rejects” these rumours, which it believes have been deliberately planted to advance the interests of the Meitei community. The association underscored that the SoO agreement was signed in good faith nearly two decades ago to foster peace in the region and accused the government of risking that hard-earned stability by entertaining divisive narratives.
“Any attempt to make the extension of the SoO conditional, to arbitrarily shut down or relocate camps, or to impose so-called ‘free movement’ across contested territories without first restoring peace, will be regarded as a serious breach of trust,” the statement read.
ZOMI CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION
PRESS STATEMENT
30:06:2025Any attempt to link SoO extension with camp closures, forced relocations, or “free movement” in conflict zones without restoring peace first is a grave breach of trust and constitutional duty. pic.twitter.com/FLPHPENL9t
— BeinGTribaL (@_BeinG_TribaL) June 30, 2025
The ZCA stressed that current movement restrictions in the state are not an imposition by the Zo people, but a necessary measure arising from ongoing ethnic violence, unresolved territorial conflicts, and the need to prevent further bloodshed. It reiterated that the Zo communities have consistently chosen peace over confrontation—even in the face of what it described as “state-sponsored ethnic violence and systematic persecution.”
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The statement also accused the Union Government of potentially compromising its impartiality by allegedly prioritizing Meitei interests. It warned that any move seen as aiding Meitei domination would “shake the Zo people’s faith” in the central government and compel them to “reassess their political future.”
The ZCA called on the Government of India to “wake up to ground realities,” asserting that Meitei and Zo territories are now “clearly marked and separated.” It declared that “separation is no longer a matter of political rhetoric, but an undeniable fact born out of violence, displacement, and survival.”
Citing constitutional provisions, the association said the only viable path forward is the creation of a Union Territory with legislature for the Zo people, a demand that has grown louder since the outbreak of ethnic clashes in 2023.
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Concluding its statement, the ZCA urged the Centre to act with “vision, courage, and justice,” warning that peace must not be sacrificed for “political expediency.”
