Kuki Groups Set Three Pre-Conditions for April 5 Talks in Delhi

Guwahati :2 April,2025

Before the April 5 dialogue between Kuki Zo and Meitei groups, arranged by the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi, the Manipur Kangpokpi district's Kuki community leaders have established three conditions. They are to ban movement between Meitei and Kuki groups in areas dominated by one group or the other. Henlianthang Thanglet, chairman of the Kuki Zo Council (KZC), said these are terms that emerged in Tuesday's meeting convened by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU).

Thanglet explained that the three conditions are: "Movement of Meitei people in Kuki-Zo areas and vice versa will be strictly limited, hostilities must cease for at least six months to enable negotiations, and a formal and meaningful dialogue process should be initiated during the ceasefire."

A Kuki Zo Council member, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has scheduled a meeting on April 5 for the Meitei and Kuki Zo communities in New Delhi.

As of May 2023, over 250 individuals have been murdered and thousands displaced following ethnic violence that broke out between the Imphal Valley-based majority Meitei community and the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribes.

The violence erupted after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was held in the hill districts to oppose the demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The central government has tried several times to persuade both the communities to sit down for a dialogue.

On February 13, the Centre had imposed President's rule in the state after the Organization of Chief Minister N Biren Singh.