Apr 5 Kuki-Meitei Talks in Delhi: Kuki Groups Says Refrained From Commitment Due to 2 Reasons

The Kuki Zo Council also said that it had strong reservations in accepting the 6-point proposal of the MHA as part of the initiatives by the Centre to bring peace

Has the peace talks initiative involving Meitei and Kuki Civil Society Organisations in Manipur hit a big roadblock? Are the CSOs from the warring communities still reluctant to sit across the table for talks?

Well, members of the Kuki Zo Council along with other Kuki Zo leaders, who took part in the talks initiated by the MHA in New Delhi on April 5th said that they refrained from making any commitment or signing any agreement or resolution during the meet due to 2 reasons – One, the want MHA to meet separately with the Kuki-Zos and with the Meiteis and two, they said the Meitei side lacked genuine representation.

The Kuki Zo Council also said that it had strong reservations in accepting the 6-point proposal of the MHA as part of the initiatives by the Centre to bring peace in Manipur. Kuki Zo Council Chairperson Henlianthang Thanglet informed that the terms were unacceptable under the current circumstances.

Besides, the KZC Chairperson said that lack of genuine representation from the Meitei side also acted as an impediment to the talks.

The Meitei civil society organisations, AMUCO and FOCS, involved in the talks do not hold a mandate from their community and cannot be considered legitimate representatives, Thanglet said adding that this was the second key reason for declining to sign any agreement.

“We cannot accept the 6-point resolution as the roadmap to peace in Manipur. We also questioned whether the Meitei civil society groups involved were truly mandated to represent their community. We believe they were not, and that made it difficult for us to move forward. If the Meitei society is not represented by mandated groups, we cannot sign any agreement or cessation of hostilities under such circumstances.”

The KZC chairman also made a strong appeal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to engage with both the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities separately, but strictly through mandated representatives to ensure any future talks is meaningful and legitimate.

“The main problem is that when we sit together in the first instance, there’s always commotion. Emotions run high on both sides. That is why, for meaningful dialogue, there must first be separate consultations one between the Kuki Zo Council and the MHA without the Meitei groups, and another between the MHA and Meitei groups without us. Only then can we find a common meeting point. So I would request the MHA to consider holding separate talks with the Kuki Zo and Meitei societies, through their respective mandated representatives.”

The Chairman also expressed concern over the alleged lack of clarity regarding the next round of talks.

The Kuki Zo leaders, however, emphasised that the talks were constructive. It may be mentioned that a grand public reception was organized by the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District, for those who participated in the Delhi talks.

Also Read: Randeep Hooda, Married to Meitei Actress Lin, Breaks His Silence on Manipur Crisis: ‘People Are Suffering, We Can’t Ignore It Anymore’

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