IMPHAL, 17 Nov: The Manipur government has strongly condemned the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum’s (ITLF) call for a “self-governed separate administration” in districts dominated by members of the Kuki-Zo community, and termed it illegal.
State government spokesperson Th Basantakumar Singh told reporters on Thursday night that “the irresponsible statements appear to be motivated and aimed at vitiating and disturbing the law and order situation in the state.”
“Meeting of the ruling party legislators held on Thursday strongly condemned the statement and appropriate legal actions is being initiated against ITLF and persons concerned,” the minister said.
ITLF, a frontal organisation of the Kuki-Zo tribes in Manipur, had on Wednesday threatened to establish a “self-governed separate administration” in areas where these tribes have a majority.
The forum said that, even after more than six months of ethnic strife in the state, the central government is yet to accept their demand for a separate administration.
“More than six months have passed since the ethnic strife started in Manipur but nothing has been done regarding our demand for a separate administration. If our demand is not heard within a couple of weeks, we will set up our self-government, irrespective of whether the Centre recognises it or not,” ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing said.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has also condemned the ITLF’s separate administration demand and said that it would only escalate the prevailing tense situation.
“It is a conspiracy to permanently rule out peaceful coexistence,” the COCOMI said in a statement, adding that it is well known to both the central and state governments that illegal immigrants are primarily behind the violence in Manipur.
Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes first erupted in May. More than 180 people have been killed since then. (PTI)