KOHUR Wishes on World Indigenous Day & Calls for Action on Kuki-Zo Crisis

KUKI ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRUST (KOHUR)

A Member of UN Special Consultative Status Since 2016

(Registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1908, Reg. No. 963 (V) on May 8, 2009)

Head Office: Eureka Cafe Building, Hill Town, Churachandpur - 795128

Email: kumhur96@yahoo.com | Website: kohur.org

PRESS RELEASE
09/09/2025

Greeting on World Indigenous Day!

On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) stands in solidarity with Indigenous communities worldwide, particularly the Indigenous peoples of India, in reaffirming their rights, dignity, and survival. While this day celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples, it also serves as a stark reminder of the systemic oppression and violence they continue to endure.

Humanitarian Catastrophe in Manipur

KOHUR urgently draws global attention to the state-orchestrated ethnic violence and humanitarian disaster inflicted upon the Indigenous Kuki-Zo people in Manipur since May 3, 2023. The crisis has resulted in:

230+ confirmed deaths, including women, children, and the elderly.

1,500+ villages and localities destroyed or abandoned.

7,000+ homes burned, displacing 60,000+ people into overcrowded and unsafe relief camps.

Irreversible cultural and socio-economic devastation, with livelihoods and community stability decimated.

Collapse of Essential Services

The humanitarian emergency persists due to the total breakdown of public infrastructure in Kuki-inhabited regions:

Zero functional government hospitals in affected hill districts.

80% of relief camps lack access to safe drinking water.

1 in 3 displaced persons suffer from preventable diseases, including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, and severe mental distress.

Maternal mortality rates have surged due to the absence of emergency healthcare.

Malnutrition exceeds WHO emergency thresholds in multiple camps and villages.

Forced Displacement and Mobility Restrictions

Due to prevailing law and order issues, Kuki-Zo communities remain cut off from essential supplies and medical care. Residents are forced to traverse dangerous jungle routes and river crossings, leading to fatalities. KOHUR demands immediate government intervention to construct all-weather roads and restore safe passage.

Violations of Indigenous Rights Along the Indo-Myanmar Border

The unilateral border fencing policy and abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) have:

Severed 200+ villages from traditional cross-border markets.

Reduced trans-border trade by 70%, crippling Indigenous economies.

Divided families with deep historical and cultural ties, violating Articles 25–36 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

KOHUR’s Demands

On this critical day, KOHUR calls upon the Government of India and the Manipur State Government to:

1. Restore healthcare, clean water, and education in all conflict-affected Kuki-Zo areas.

2. End discriminatory policies and uphold Indigenous rights under UNDRIP and international law.

3. Halt border fencing projects until Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) is obtained from affected communities.

4. Establish a separate administrative arrangement for the Kuki-Zo people to ensure protection from systemic oppression.

A Call for Justice, Not Symbolism

KOHUR urges the international community, human rights organizations, and the Indian government to transform this day from mere symbolism into decisive action. The Kuki-Zo people — and all Indigenous communities — deserve justice, restoration, and the right to determine their future.

Department of Information & Publicity

Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust

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