INDIGENOUS TRIBAL LEADERS' FORUM (ITLF)
Conglomerate of Recognised Tribes in
Lamka
File No: ITLF-MM-202313
Lamka, 29 June 2023
To,
Shri Rahul Gandhi,
Former President,
Indian National Congress.
Subject: Request to facilitate the concerns of the tribals of Manipur.
Respected Sir,
The ethnic clashes in Manipur have unleashed untold hardships on tens of thousands of civilians, with no end in sight. Governance has totally collapsed after almost 60 days of violence, with the army and central security forces being our only protectors.
While both sides have suffered, the tribals have faced the brunt of the violence because of their size (53 percent of the state’s population is Meitei while the tribals who are being targeted constitute just 16 percent) and because the government and the state police, which is controlled by the Meiteis, have openly sided with their community. (40 out of 60 lawmakers are Meiteis, including the chief minister)
Since the start of the violence on May 3, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of the tribals, has recorded 106 deaths among the tribals. Over 201 tribal villages have been burnt which include over 7000 houses burnt, 356 churches have been demolished and the number of displaced tribals has reached 41,425.
This was not a spontaneous event arising out of a misunderstanding between two communities, but a carefully orchestrated plan by the N. Biren Singh-led government and its radical non-government allies to fulfill their majoritarian agenda of usurping tribal lands and initiating an ethnic cleansing. This is why they have suddenly referred to all tribals in the state as “foreigners”.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella group of several Meitei organisations, has declared a “National War” on tribals, while militant group Meitei Leepun’s chief Pramot Singh threatened during a TV interview to wipe out all Kukis from Manipur. More than 4000 weapons were looted from the State Armoury to terrorized the tribals. There is ample reporting by the national media of armed Meitei groups led by rogue state police commandos attacking tribal villages while the womenfolk block security forces from aiding the hapless villagers.
The radicalisation of the Meitei populace began after N. Biren Singh became chief minister, with the Imphal valley-based media, the CM, and radical intellectuals constantly feeding the people with the false narrative of “foreigners” and “poppy cultivator” infiltrating en masse.
The incendiary statements by Meitei leaders, the lies perpetuated by the chief minister and the media, and the repeated attacks on tribal villages by Meitei mobs mean that tribals can never put their trust in the majority community again.
The unending attacks have resulted in the total physical separation of tribals and Meiteis in different geographical areas. After so much blood and trauma, there is no possibility of the two sides living together again. The majority community has also clearly communicated their wish to be separated from tribals by chasing us out of the valley.
This is why we, the tribals, are demanding a totally separate administration from the Manipur government under the Indian constitution. We pledge to be good neighbours when peace returns.
For peace and fairness to be restored, we also demand the imposition of President’s Rule so that the communal government led by N. Biren Singh will not be able to continue its anti-tribal agenda. The person responsible for the violence cannot be part of the peace process.
We, therefore, urge you to take the matter of facilitating the total separation of the tribal people from Manipur to the Congress leadership and also to the concerned officials of the Government of India. We also request you to raise the matter with the Union Home Minister in favor of separate administration for the tribal people.
Sincerely,
(PAGIN HAOKIP)
Chairman,
Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)
(MUAN TOMBING)
Secretary,
Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF)
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