New Delhi: Formed in the wake of the 3 May ethnic violence in Manipur, the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC), an outfit of “around 80 members comprising students, writers, academics and activists”, was last week banned and declared unlawful by the N. Biren Singh-led state government.
The state cabinet alleged in a statement, following an emergency meeting, that the WKZIC had purportedly stated in a 24 October “press release” that the Kuki-Zo community would face “another war” this November and called for members of the community to stock arms and ammunition to face the “war”.
Speaking to ThePrint Sunday, T.S. Haokip, president of WKZIC, claimed the press release to be “fake”.
“This isn’t the first time that some unknown miscreants have shared fake press releases in our name. We work for world peace. Before this, two other press releases have been issued in our name,” he alleged.
Talking about the WKZIC, Haokip said, the organisation was formerly known as ‘Kuki Zo Intellectual Council’ and was formed with the objective to “coordinate all Zo-Kuki social, political and church conglomerates globally and initiate a common social platform as united Zo-Kuki council”.
While media reports have earlier quoted leaders of the WKZIC as terming it an “NGO formed by Kuki writers and teachers”, Haokip said “our organisation has around 80 members composed of students, academics, activists, writers and teachers”.
He added: “The organisation comprises a board of executives, consultants, patrons, volunteers, scholars, writers and academicians.”
According to Haokip, the organisation also has a unit in the US, comprising three to four members. This unit was constituted some three-four months after the WKZIC was formed in Manipur, he said.
“We formed this organisation after the 3 May violence. This isn’t the first time that Kuki people are facing genocide. We want the world to know what’s happening with us. We only demand a separate Kuki state and this comes under the purview of the Indian Constitution,” Haokip told ThePrint.
A state government official told ThePrint on condition of anonymity that, “The action by the government [against WKZIC] has been taken after discussions and assessment. WKZIC has created a lot of nuisance and they have also demanded a separate Kuki state.”
ThePrint has also reached the Manipur CM’s office, the CM’s secretary and the Manipur government’s department of publicity over email for comment on the ban, the WKZIC’s claim of the offending press release being fake and the organisation’s demand for a separate Kuki state. The report will be updated once a response is received.
Ethnic clashes between the tribal Kuki and non-tribal Meitei communities erupted on 3 May, following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ taken out to oppose the demand for inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and for what was described as an effort to secure the rights and constitutional safeguards of the ethnic Kuki and their sub-tribes. The violence has claimed many lives and displaced thousands.
Negligible social media presence
An account of the WKZIC on the social media platform X (previously Twitter) was created only in July this year, and currently has 1,377 followers. The organisation doesn’t have an official website.
The display photo on the organisation on X says the WKZIC was created on 14 May, is headquartered in Songpi, Lamka, in Manipur, and has the motto “Come Let Us Build Together”.
Haokip confirmed the details, adding that the organisation was created to “highlight and seek the country’s and the world’s attention towards reality”.
The WKZIC has also stated on its social media account that the “press release” circulating in its name, which led to its ban, was “fake” and was issued by “miscreants” to “malign” the organisation’s image.
According to the statement on X, “WKZIC exclusively issues Official Press Releases and posts them on its Official Twitter [X] Account”.
The police in Manipur’s Churachandpur had last month lodged an FIR, taking cognisance of the release issued in the WKZIC’s name.
According to the purported press release, “Now, it [WKZIC] requires that the ITLF [Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum] Defense Wing, Zo United, COTU Defense, and the 04 (Four) Inpi [all tribal organisations working in Manipur] work sincerely. During this November, before the harvesting session, we will face another war; thus, arms and ammunition, bombs, etc. should be in sufficient stock. Youth volunteers will be the ones going to face the war on the frontlines. Our national army (UGs) shall join at our back only in critical situations. The reason being, the Kuki national army (UGs) will not have free access any more (due to the tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement). Our national volunteers shall be equipped with the best arms; if required, ammunition shall be supplied limitlessly. Let’s not forget we are at war.”
‘Separate Kuki state’
Meanwhile, the WKZIC has been actively pushing for a separate state for Kukis on social media and highlighting alleged atrocities by Meiteis.
A post on WKZIC’s social media account, dated 2 November, shows a letter written by the organisation to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, complaining against the deployment of Manipur state commando police in “Moreh Indo-Myanmar town”. It requests for “immediate action against atrocities and intervention for verification of Meitei militants”.
In another document, a detailed memorandum dated 30 June, addressed to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the WKZIC asks him for his intervention for “total separation of Meitei & Kuki people by creating Kuki Union Territory or Kuki state in Outer Manipur Kuki Hills, as per the provisions of Indian Constitution”. ThePrint has accessed the document.
Another memorandum, seen by ThePrint, is addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations, dated 29 June. It also asks the world body to intervene for “total separation of Meitei and Kuki people by creating a separate Kuki state in Outer Manipur Kuki Hills”.
The organisation has also, reportedly through a letter addressed to Dinkar Gupta, Director General of the National Investigation Agency, sought for review of the allegations of violence against four Kuki groups.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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