NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) have reiterated their demand for a Union Territory with a Legislature for the Kuki-Zo people during the second round of tripartite talks held in New Delhi on Thursday, December 121.
The talks were attended by senior leaders of the two Kuki-Zo umbrella organizations, the Government of India's Security Advisor for the North East representing the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and a senior official representing the Government of Manipur2.
Focus on Land Rights and Governance
According to a joint press release issued today, the deliberations primarily focused on land-related issues and governance in the hill areas3. The UPF and KNO delegations asserted that tribal land rights have historically and customarily been vested in tribal village chiefs4. They alleged that this foundational principle of hill governance has been systematically undermined by aggressive policies of the Manipur Government aimed at dispossessing tribal communities of their ancestral lands5555.
The Kuki-Zo representatives argued that a Union Territory with a Legislature is not merely a matter of administrative reorganization but an "existential necessity" to safeguard traditional land rights6. They stated that such a body would possess the necessary authority and neutrality to enact laws capable of halting the process of dispossession7.
Allegations of Systemic Bias and Administrative Overreach
The groups raised strong objections to the state government's pre-violence narratives, specifically the characterization of Kuki-Zo villagers as "encroachers" and "illegal immigrants" to justify eviction drives8.
They further highlighted specific administrative actions that they claim compromised the security and autonomy of the hill districts:
• Police Jurisdiction: The groups cited executive orders from June 2011 that extended the jurisdiction of valley-based police stations into hill subdivisions9. They argued this placed Kuki-Zo security in the hands of "valley-centric forces" during the May 2023 violence, exacerbating their vulnerability10.
• Land Administration: The representatives alleged that valley sub-registrars have illegally registered land deeds for properties located in hill districts, creating overlapping jurisdictions and violating Section 2 of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 196011.
Breakdown of Social Contract
The press statement declared that the "social contract" between the Kuki-Zo people and the State of Manipur has "broken down beyond repair"12. The groups contended that existing constitutional safeguards, such as Article 371C and the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), have failed in practice and have been repeatedly bypassed13.
Citing the total physical separation of populations since May 3, 2023, and the alleged weaponization of state machinery, the UPF and KNO stated that reintegration under the existing state framework is no longer possible14141414. They demanded that both security and land records be completely severed from the control of the Manipur State Government15.
The groups concluded that a separate political solution in the form of a Union Territory remains the only viable path to ensure justice, security, and lasting peace16161616.
