LEITUNG ah sihna in bei hun a nei ngaikei diing a, vaantung ah hinna in bei hun a nei ngaikei diing hi. Sihna pen
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| Pic: Author |
LEITUNG ah sihna in bei hun a nei ngaikei diing a, vaantung ah hinna in bei hun a nei ngaikei diing hi. Sihna pen
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| Pic: Author |
MEITEI militants today ambushed and shot dead two unarmed Kuki-Zo tribals who were repairing road in Kangpokpi district, underscoring the lack of security for minority tribals in Manipur six months after the outbreak of the ethnic conflict.
Henminlen Vaiphei, s/o Luntinlal Vaiphei from Leimakhong and Thangminlun Hangsing, s/o Lunkhongam Hangsing from Khunkho village were killed around 9:30 am between L. Tangnuam village and Kharam Vaiphei village along the Lamka-Kangpokpi road.
The attack occurred in the same area where three Kuki-Zo tribals were killed (also in an ambush) in September, which shows the impunity with which armed radicals from the majority community operate.
A team of volunteers were out repairing the Lamka-Kangpokpi road, which had suffered considerable damage due to the recent spell of rainfall. The victims had just dropped off their friends at a designated point and were trying to head back to Leimakhong when they were ambushed.
The attack occurred a mere 50 meters from where they had left their friends. Since the victims and their friends were all unarmed, they were unable to defend themselves. One of the deceased, Henminlen Vaiphei, is a personnel of 6th IRB, posted at Leimakhong.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) vehemently condemns the unending attacks and killing of unarmed tribals by the Meitei community. Since we don’t expect any help and sympathy from the communal state government controlled by the Meiteis, we again urge the central government to accept the situation for what it is – an ethnic cleansing campaign against minorities. Provide us with a political solution which does not involve living under the yoke of a Meitei-controlled government.
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2. Anal = 27,000
3. Ao = 226, 625
4. Chakhesang = 154, 874
5. Chang = 64,226
6. Chirr = 138
7. Chiru = 8599
8. Chothe = 3585
9. Inpui = 10,000
10. Kharam = 1145
11. Khiamniungan = 120,000
12. Lamkang = 7770
13. Lainong (unknown)
14. Liangmai = 60, 000
15. Lotha = 173, 111
16. Konyak = 320,000
17. Makury = 65,000
18. Mao = 97,195
19. Maram = 37,300
20. Maring = 45,000
21. Monsang = 2427
22. Moyon = 2516
23. Nocte = 111,679
24. Para (unknown)
25. Phom = 13,000
26. Pochury = 21,000
27. Poumai =187,180
28. Rengma = 63,000
29. Rongmei =150,000
30. Sangtam = 74, 994
31. Sumi =300, 000
32. Tangkhul = 680,000 (India&Myanmar)
33. Tangsa = 450, 000
34. Tarao = 1006
35. Thangal = 4475
36. Tikhir = 7537
37. Tutsa = 25,000
38. Wancho = 56,866
39. Yimchunger = 74,647
40. Zeme = 130, 000
Total Naga Population worldwide = 7, 000,000 (7 Million Approx).
*via WhatsApp.
1. Pilna ahihleh Hauhsakna ahi.
“Huleh jaan laiin Paul in kilaahna amu a, Makedonia gam ah hung gaalkaai inla, hung panpih in, chia ngeenin amu hi.” (Silb.16:8)
Dr. Watkin R. Robert chu Denorvic Street Carnasven Mid W. Welsh ah September 21, 1886 in a piang hi. Evangelist minthang Reuben Torrey (@ R. Torrey) thusoina apat piang thah ahi. A poimohna mun pouh a Tanchinpha soi diingin Dr. Peter Fraser te nupa hung zuiin October 14, 1908 in Aizawl ahung zuan uhi. Mission Dispensary ah kum khat a seem a, Mizo haam zong ahung siampah hi. Tanchinhoih John Lehkhabu Mizo haam a Pu HK Dohnu, Rev. R. Dala leh Pu Suaka lehdoh lei in Mizo hausa zousiah thot ahung sawmta hi. Ni khat chu Mizoram polam apat hung zin hileh kilawm Medical Mission campus ah ahung lut uhi. Huin Watkin R. Robert in a gam tanchin uh a dong a, Manipur a Thadou Kuki te ahi uh chih a heetin, ‘Na gam vah Tanchinpha thusoi a umtai? Hausapu in Lushei haam a sim thei ei?’ chi in a dong hi. Koimah Tanchinpha soi a um sih a, hausapu in Lushei haam a sim thei chih a heet tahin, Tanchinhoih John Lehkhabu chu Senvawn hausapu Pu (L) Kamkholun a diingin a thotta hi.
Hi Bible kithot amu viai amu sih viai chia lungdong a a um lai in, Senvawn apat Aizawl a puankhui zil diingin mi 4 ahung va, hite tungtawnin Pu Kamkholun in Watkin R. Robert a diingin Tanchinhoih John Lehkhabu khat sunga a awng ah, “Pute aw, na hung lehkhabu piaah uh hilhtu um louin a ngaihna ka he sih uh. Nanguh hung unla, lehkhabu leh na Pathian tanchin uh hung hilh un” chih gialin a thot kiit hi. Pathian in i haamteina hung dawng chi in ‘Mekedonia Kouhna’ banga ngaiin, Aizawl a lehkhasim tangvaal Pu Thangkai leh Pu Lungpau toh January 31, 1910 (Monday) in Senvawn juan in akipandoh uhi. Huchiin February 5, 1910 (Saturday) in Senvawn khua atung uhi. Ajiing Pathianni in kikhopna anei va, Tanchinpha soina Pu Watkin R. Robert in nei in lohchingtah in hun a zang uhi.
Apostol Paul Pathian natohna i et chiangin abul apatin Hagau Siangthou mapuina atang nasa mahmah hi. “Huleh Lalpa natong a an angawl laiun, Hagau Siangthou in, ‘Barnabas leh Saul keimah nna seem diinga ka kouh chu hung khenkhiahsah un’ a chi hi.” (Silb.13:2) Amau geel chu ‘Hagau Siangthou sawldohin a chiah va,’ (Silb.13:4) Antioch kouhtuam in missionary diingin a sawldoh uhi. Paphos ahung tun un ‘dawisiam, zawlnei tahlou, Judami Bar-Jesu kichi in amahuh ana doudaal tahin Paul chu Hagau Siangthou in a dim a, amah a ensaal hi.’ (Silb.13:9) Pisidia gam a Antiok khua a thusoina ah Judate leh Jentelte tamtah a piang thah uhi. “Huleh nungjuite chu kipaahna leh Hagau Siangthou in a dimta uhi.” (Silb.13:52) Tuni in i natohna ah Hagau puina leh lamkaihna i mu in i he thei ei? Paul in Galatia kouhtuamte kawmah, “Hagau ah um un, Hagau pui in um un, Hagau ah hing un,” (Gal.5:16,18,25) a chi a, huleh Ephesite kawmah, ‘Hagau a dimin um un,’ (Eph.5:18) a chi kiit hi.
Unau simtu deihtahte aw! Tulai gingtute’n Hagau puina, dimna poimoh hina mei hang e maw! I hinkhua a Hagau Siangthou puina, thopna, dimna a um nawn louh jiahin, eimah a Hagau um chu a lungngai a, i sumit va, i mimal hinkhua a gaw a, tahsa miitna in ahung zou a, khovel toh kilimdanna i nei nawn sih uhi. Hujiahin kouhtuam chinteng chu khing leh mialin a vaah thei nawn sih hi. Hagau Siangthou kipuisah nawn louin eimah siamna, pilna leh heetna, haatna, sum leh paai, neih leh lam, politics in kouhtuamte i puita uhi. Apostol Paul leh gingtu masate’n Hagau Siangthou kouhna aw leh puina kichiantah atan bang uh i poimoh mahmah hi. Lalpa’n simtu zousiah hi khovel mial ah Hagau aw neemin hung pui chiatta hen.
'Hi thute sim a zui mi chu a hampha hi.' (Revelation 1:3)
THE Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) strongly condemns the FIR against its general secretary Muan Tombing for his comments on a self-governing body for Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur.
A separate administration from the Meitei government has always been our demand since the start of the conflict in May, and we have also made it clear that any political solution should come under the constitution of India. Therefore, the charges of sedition and conspiring to wage war against the Indian government are totally baseless. Police cases were also earlier filed against ITLF’s chairman and spokesperson in an attempt to silence the voice of the tribal movement.
Why are we adamant with our demand for separation? Innocent Kuki-Zo civilians were butchered in Meitei dominated areas including the capital, and those that survived have been chased out with no possibility of going back. We have been called illegal immigrants, and Meitei civil societies declared “war” on us. The state government and police have openly sided with the Meitei community, with commandos leading attacks on tribal villages.
Even NGOs in the field of development, aided by the CM, are trying to siphon off funds meant for tribal development. In the most recent case on October 23, the CM requested Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to approve six projects worth over crores of rupees to Meitei NGOs based in Imphal. None of them worked for tribal welfare. The state’s education minister told a Meitei activist that he would remove a chapter on “The Kuki” from school books, an obvious attempt to erase tribal history.
Tribal government employees and our MLAs can no longer reach Imphal and are unable to perform their duties for their constituencies.
Meanwhile, we have not received any help from the state government; even central government aid like food and other essential items are routed through neighbouring Mizoram state as Meitei mobs don’t allow any material to reach tribal areas. Tribals no longer have access to the highway linking us to the country’s rail corridor and the airport.
Since we don’t know when the central government will complete the mechanisms for a separate administration for Kuki-Zo tribals, we need a separate secretariat in the interim so that our government servants and lawmakers can continue working for their people.
Hiaia Unau 2 (nihte) salpha tuak leh anasep ua ginom leh hangsan tuak ahihdan uh mipiten thei kimlou i hihdan uh social mediate a kipan ka theichian mahmah a, poi kasak jiakin ka hon gelh a, genchian danin leng ka kingai mai ka chi.
Mr. N & T Thangzamuante nasepdan ahih ding mah sem tuak ahi uh. Mr.N in MK.Gandhiji hun lai a Britishten anasep dantak ua sem ahi a, Mr.T in hiai hunlai a Gandhi nasep leh kalsuan dan hangsantaka juia sem ahijaw uh.
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| Copy: FIR against Secretary, ITLF |
Nam heutu kichi amahlehamah heutu a kipia maw (or) sehthawh ahih a, huai nasem ding a poma kipankhia ahih nakleh a mawkpuakna a kuitun mateng semkhe dinga pan hon lakngam chiang ua, mipiten Heutu chipan uh ahi. Heutupa Mr.T tung a CM, DGP, SP-te nasep dan alamdang hilou in 1942 khawnga kipan Gandhi makaihna a Sapkangte khut nuaia kipan zalen-na ngena a kiphin lai ua Gandhi ji thil tuah kipan dek ahita. CM leh MLA khenkhat-ten, hiai thu tawh kisaikha teng leng FIR bulh khum vek ding a chih lai uh i etjui leh, Britishten Gandhi a mat khitnung ua leaderteng root out, eliminate vek leng bei mai ding chi ua leader min pawteng aban kap aban thah uh leh a mat vek dan ua hon bawl sawm uh ahi chih mipiten i haihlouh ding uh ahi.
Nam heutu nationalist khat in tuh dan tawh kituaka i kalsuan hun a om dia, dan ngak zawh vual hilou a, eimah leh mipite poimawh leh deihdan a i kalsuan hun leng a om ke. FIR leng i tuak dia, lockup leng, imprison suangkul a khum inleng, a bungbu a khai a sawina leng omkha venchia, huaituh na mi, na nam, na gam itna himai ahi. Social Media a nam sung tat-tuah a danledun thei lah bang theilou lah bang a thugen leng i chin tam louh uh hoih ding ahi. Mr.T in a sep ding pan dek pan ahi a Mr.N inleng a training zawh a oathtaking lai a, a thuchiam dungjuia a buhpang nasep hangsantaka sem hilel ahi. Ama lungtang sung kimin mahmah lou ding ahi chih i theihpih uh leng poimawh lua ahi, CM, DGP-te thupiak nangzou ding Manipur a govt, employees kuamah omlou ahi.
Atawpna dingin OC-pa limlak tawh social media a, hiai pa huchi khachi namte gal, namte melma namte mansakpa chi a ki hihminsiatna i bawl un CM, all MLAs & Delhi deng lut khin ding ahihmanin, na thilhihkhelh uh na kisik uh poimawh mahmah dingin ka thei.
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'Unfortunately, there is no movement towards peace in Manipur.'
There are long histories of problems between the tribes in Manipur. They don't trust each other and are extremely wary.
"Usually, political changes are brought about by the youth, but presently Meitei and Kuki youth are at war with each other," says retired Lieutenant General Shokin Chauhan (retd), former director general of the Assam Rifles, the country's oldest and largest paramilitary force.
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| Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan |
General Chauhan, a third generation army officer, was chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group to ensure peace in the North East.
The officer has served for nearly 15 years in the North East over five different tenures. He has vast experience in conducting counter terrorist operations both in Kashmir and the North East, and served as the DG of the Assam Rifles for 16 months.
"Assam Rifles probably has the most difficult task among all Central Armed Police Forces and has discharged its duties excellently. It is the only organisation keeping the peace and has prevented mass scale genocide on both sides," says the distinguished military officer in the first part of a Zoom interview with Rediff.com's Archana Masih.
As an officer who has served long and important tenures in the North East, what are the historical reasons behind the inter-tribal clashes that have continued for six months in Manipur?
We need to know the background of Manipur to understand the present situation.
In the late 1700s Manipur was occupied by the Burmese empire and the king of Manipur sought the help of the British. The British and the Burmese fought three Anglo-Burma wars and by 1868 Burma became a part of the British empire.
After the British occupation, Manipur became a British protectorate resulting in many tribes migrating from northern and upper Burma towards Manipur for better prospects, land and water.
The Meitei king and the people had to learn to share the land with the migrants who arrived during the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Post-Independence, Manipur came to be inhabited by three main tribes -- Meitei which are about 54%-55%, Nagas and Kukis, the latter were about 14% during Independence and maybe are 16%-17% presently. There has been no survey done [since 2011] to indicate the exact numbers.
What are the main issues and misgivings between the Meitei and Kukis?
Every flashpoint in the North East revolves around three main issues:
1. Land: Tribal land in the North East is in the hand of tribal societies. This is stated in Article 371, A, B, C, D of the Constitution.
In Manipur, in accordance with these special provisions, the Nagas and Kukis own the land in the hills where they live. While the Meiteis own the land in the valley.
All the tribes in the North East are designated as scheduled tribes; however, the scheduled caste status was not given to the Meiteis. This could either be because they didn't want it in 1947-1948, or because they were better off than the rest of the people.
But over the last 20 odd years, the Meiteis feel that they have been cheated of the scheduled caste status which would in turn have helped in securing government jobs and also give them access to tribal lands.
2. Political power: The Meiteis are the most populous and dominant community. Except the brief period of Rishang Keishing who was a Tangkhul Naga, Meitei chief ministers have always headed the state government.
Since Kukis had the status of scheduled tribes and scheduled castes, they got reservations in state jobs and as a result, moved up the ladder in the police and state administration. This also enabled Kukis to move from the hills towards the valley.
3. Cultural Identity: The Kukis came to Manipur only in the last three centuries, though they say that some Kukis fought for the Raja of Manipur in the 15th and 16th centuries, but the fact is that the majority of the Kukis came to the state in the last 300 years.
They have not been accepted in society because Meiteis feel that they have come in later and didn't deserve the land they made their own.
All issues in Manipur and the North East originate from land, cultural identity, and political power.
That is the root problem between the Meiteis and Kukis. The Kukis had also settled in Ukhrul which is claimed by the Tangkhal Nagas. I was a young company commander posted there in the late 1980s. We were protecting the few Kuki villages because the Tangkhal Nagas had declared war on them.
What is different about the problem this time as compared to tribal feuds of the past?
What were the immediate triggers for the intra-tribal clashes?
The immediate conflagration was on April 24 when the chief minister wanted to inaugurate an open gym in Churachandpur and there was disturbance in the valley.
Subsequently, on May 3-4, assailants set fire to the Anglo-Kuki memorial which is sacred and commemorates the Kukis who fought against the British before the First World War.
This incident added fuel to an already incensed crowd and created mayhem in the state.
The Meiteis feel that they are going to lose out on political power one day which is incorrect because they are 54%-55% of the population, but sometimes people are manipulated by politicians who make them insecure because that's the only way to get political support.
Secondly, like I said, as per the Constitution, those tribal lands are not available because the tribal societies own it and there was a push from the state government to declare certain areas as reserved forests that would have edged the Kukis out.
Why is there no resolution to the current problem that is seeing recurring violence over the past six months?
There are long histories of problems between the tribes. The different tribes and communities don't trust each other. They have been brought up on tales that have widened the divide and are extremely wary of each other. They live in separate areas.
Since the Meiteis are the dominant tribe, Kukis feel that they were being pushed out.
Why is there no end to this violence that has taken nearly 180 lives?
The violence can't end till the people from both societies get together and decide to end this violence.
Meitei and Kuki elders must sit together and say, let's end this violence. Usually, political changes are brought about by the youth, but presently Meitei and Kuki youth are at war with each other.
Unfortunately, I don't see any movement towards peace. Politically, the Biren Singh government has lost credibility amongst the Kukis and the Kukis are not going to listen to him.
The situation on the ground has to change to give peace a chance.
As former director general of the Assam Rifles, what are your thoughts about the challenges faced by the Assam Rifles in the last six months in Manipur?
Let me put it on record that the Assam Rifles is probably the best fighting force in the country today and equals any Indian army unit in its capability.
We have deployed the Assam Rifles extensively in Kashmir. They have also served in Sri Lanka and conducted successful operations against the LTTE in their areas of operations. They are an extremely experienced organisation.
The Assam Rifles has discharged its duties excellently and is the only organisation keeping the peace. It has prevented mass scale genocide on both sides and stopped many revenge operations.
The force is deployed in the North East, but it recruits personnel from different castes, communities from the entire country at the same percentages as the recruits of the Indian Army.
It probably has the most difficult task among all Central Armed Police Forces and they have done it with a smile.
Assam Rifles probably has the most difficult task among all Central Armed Police Forces and they have done it with a smile.
Lamka, 17 November: NEIGRIHMS a sem eimi staff ten tuni in damlou Hauvanglian. Rs 22,500/- in vehna pia uhi.
| Filling up the school forms for the children. |
10 Kuki-Zo
children left their homes for better education and were voluntarily brought to
Bengaluru-Karnataka State, by research scholar Lalginthang,
who wanted to ensure they did not lose their future. They travelled in fear by
bus through Manipur, facing the risk of attacks from the Meiteis. Their journey took nearly three
days from Guwahati to Bengaluru. May God bless BMSSS (Archdiocese of Bangalore), the Children, and Mr. Lalginthang. We pray for all
of them.