THE Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) deserves immense appreciation for taking their community’s profound grievances directly to the heart of the nation. Led with exceptional professionalism by spokesperson Pu Ginza Vualzong, the Monday press interaction at the Press Club of India in New Delhi was a masterclass in dignified and compelling representation. Addressing a remarkably high turnout of national media houses, the delegation addressed the core, harrowing realities of the Kuki-Zo people: spanning a severe humanitarian crisis, food insecurity, existential challenges, and the urgent necessity of a political solution. The panel handled tough questions with sharp precision, introducing a vital layer of transparency that instils genuine faith in their leadership. Regular press briefings after encounters with the Ministry of Home Affairs would be a welcome step forward to maintain this powerful momentum. This successful interaction marks a monumental stride towards securing justice, lasting peace, and the rightful realization of the shared aspiration for a Union Territory with a Legislature.
However, the structural realities underpinning this visit paint a deeply troubling picture of institutional failure. There is a glaring, unacceptable disparity in how the Central government, the Manipur State government, and local security forces respond to the violence. While the tragic and unauthorized killing of six Naga hostages was rightly met with immediate official outrage and rigorous investigation, a deafening silence surrounds the deaths of 14 Kuki-Zo civilians, including three dedicated pastors ambushed during peace-building efforts, and the burning of fourteen villages since March 2026. Why have security forces not acted with the same urgency to dismantle the blockades in Naga-dominated areas that they showed previously in Kuki areas? Today, arbitrary blockades at Senapati and Namdilong prevent food and medicine from reaching desperate families, driving petrol prices to Rs 250 per litre and LPG cylinders to an astronomical Rs 5,000. Even the fundamental right to healthcare under Article 21 has been compromised, as seen when injured Kuki-Zo youths, including footballer Paogoulal Chongloi, were forced out of a public hospital in Imphal due to hostile protests. This selective justice and systematic inaction by the authorities only deepen communal mistrust and shatter public confidence.
The ongoing tragedy in Manipur proves that a complex ethnic conflict cannot be managed by superficial security measures alone. For over three years, the Kuki-Zo community has endured relentless displacement, the burning of homes, and the desecration of places of worship from multiple fronts. From the horrific burning of Leikot, Nungthut, and Khongmol villages to cross-border terrorism, families are being driven into forests just to survive. Despite these immense provocations, the community’s leadership remains firmly committed to democratic dialogue and peace. Yet, the lived experience of persistent discrimination and state failure makes one thing absolutely clear: the Kuki-Zo people can no longer exist under an administrative system that consistently refuses to protect their lives and dignity. The demand for a Separate Administration is no longer just a political desire; it is an absolute necessity for survival. The Central government must move past stop-gap security arrangements and immediately expedite meaningful political dialogue to grant a Union Territory with a Legislature. Only an institutional arrangement grounded in equal justice and constitutional safety can guarantee a secure, dignified future for all.
~ Zogam Today | Editorial | 14.07.2026
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