GG News Bureau
Imphal/Guwahati, 16th April. The Kuki National Assembly (KNA) has strongly denounced the recent killing of two “village defence volunteers” in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, allegedly perpetrated by an armed group from the valley. In response, the KNA has urged the Kuki-Zo tribes to refrain from participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as a form of protest against what they perceive as atrocities against their communities.
In a statement issued by KNA spokesperson Mangboi Haokip, the organization expressed profound dismay over the loss of innocent lives and condemned the failure of Indian security forces to prevent such incidents. Haokip highlighted the erosion of faith in the Indian Constitution and democracy due to what he described as the neglect of minority ethnic groups in Manipur.
The KNA’s decision to boycott the elections aligns with similar calls from various Kuki-Zo groups, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Global Kuki-Zomi-Hmar Women community. These groups have united in their resolve to abstain from voting to underscore their anguish and demand recognition of their plight.
Allegations of collusion between armed groups and security forces have further fueled tensions, with accusations of complicity in the attacks on Kuki-Zo communities. Graphic visuals purportedly depicting the mutilation of victims have circulated on social media, intensifying calls for justice and accountability.
In response to these allegations, valley civil society organizations have made counter-accusations, alleging torture and extrajudicial killings of farmers by armed groups operating in the hills. The ethnic violence, rooted in disputes over land, resources, and political representation, has resulted in over 210 deaths and the displacement of more than 50,000 people over the past 11 months.
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