Manipur tribal group gives 'self-rule' ultimatum to govt

GUWAHATI: The frontal organisation of the Kuki-Zo tribes of Manipur, Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), on Wednesday threatened to set up a self-government to administer the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of the state if the demand for a separate administration is not addressed by the government in the next two weeks.

ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing told the media during a protest in Churachandpur district that they will go ahead with the plan to set up the self-government "whether the Centre recognizes it or not." "It has been over six months and nothing has been done regarding our demand for a separate administration from the Manipur government. So, if our voice is not heard within a couple of weeks, we will set up our self-government," Tombing said.

He added, "As in a state or a Unon Territory, we will set up a self-government that will look into all matters in the Kuki-Zo areas. We have to do this since our voice has not been heard."

Earlier in May, soon after the strife started over the ST demand by the Meiteis, 10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from BJP, first raised the demand for total separation from Manipur by way of a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo areas - a stand which has been the primary point of conflict between the two groups for over six months now.

Protest to press for CBI, NIA probe into Kuki killings
The ITLF organised the protest in Churachandpur on Wednesday to push for the demand of separate administration, and also to request for a probe by the CBI or the NIA into the alleged killing of 22 people of the Kuki tribe. "Many brutal killings of members of the Kuki-Zo community have taken place but the CBI or the central agencies have not taken them up for investigation. This rally is to protest against the atrocities committed against the Kuki-Zo people," ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said.

The NIA, which has started probe into some of the cases of violence, has linked the ethnic strife to a "trans-national conspiracy' hatched by Indian terrorists based out of Myanmar and Bangladesh to wage a war against India.