Manipur: Tribal forum apologises to Kuki Zo people for ‘misguided, unfortunate conflict with Meitei’

The Indigenous Tribal Leader Forum (ITLF) on Wednesday offered an apology to the Kuki Zo people in Manipur for their involvement in ‘misguided actions’ that resulted in the months-long ‘unfortunate conflict with the Meitei people’ that have claimed more than 140 lives.

In an official statement, the ITLF said, “The Indigenous Tribal Leader Forum, a leading organisation committed to the welfare and unity of indigenous communities, acknowledges and deeply regrets the misguided actions that resulted in brainwashing and involvement of innocent Kuki Zo people in the unfortunate conflict with the Meitei people in Manipur.”

The controversial organisation, whose Twitter account was held back in India on June 18 due to legal claims, acknowledged its failure in fulfilling its mission ‘to foster harmony, mutual respect among different indigenous communities, promoting peace and coexistence’.

“It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge our failure in fulfilling these core principles, leading to the unintended consequences that have impacted both the Kuki Zo and Meitei communities,” the statement read.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the innocent Kuki Zo people whose trust was misplaced and who were inadvertently drawn into the conflict,” the ITLF statement concluded.

The Tribal Forum, which is influential in the Kuki Zo community, pledged to rectify the mistakes made by them that resulted in the prolonged violence by taking actions that include an open dialogue between the Kuki Zo and Meitei communities, restorative measures, and a transparent review of its organisational processes and decision-making structures.

Manipur violence has killed 142 people till July 4, State tells SC

The Manipur government on Monday filed a report before the Supreme Court that said that 142 people were killed and 17 were missing as of July 4 in the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

The 16-page report also said that 5,995 First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered as of July 4, and 6 FIRs identified as ‘important’ have been transferred to the CBI for independent investigation.

According to the Government, 181 people have been arrested for their role in the violence, and 6,745 were under detention. Further, it reported that 5,053 cases of arson have been registered as of July 3.