MMAB demands HM to address misleading genocide allegations

By Our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI/IMPHAL Aug 31 : The Manipuri Meitei Association Bangalore (MMAB) has issued an urgent appeal to India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, expressing concerns over a Nationwide rally organized by the Kuki Students Organi-zation (KSO) and Kuki Inpi.
The rally held on Saturday at some places deman- ded a Union Territory based on allegations of genocide by the Indian Government, which MMAB deems as misleading propaganda.
In a letter addressed to Shah, MMAB said that the rally's claims are false and could incite international media scrutiny, potentially targeting high-ranking officials such as the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
The association argued that the ongoing violence in Manipur stems from illegal Kuki immigration and attacks by Kuki armed mili- tant groups. They said that the matter is currently subjudice, with related cases being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
MMAB also highlighted their commitment to peace through community engagement, citing their recent ‘Fields of Hope’ sports event aimed at fostering unity among Manipur’s diverse communities. They stressed that rallies based on unverified allegations could exacerbate tensions and undermine peace efforts.
Meanwhile,  Indigenous People's Forum, Manipur president Ashang Ksar has asserted that the use of the word 'genocide' by the Kukis and the claim that they have been persecuted have no foundation and are concocted, and every indigenous people of Manipur should condemn these lies.
Addressing a press meet organised by the Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) at the Press Club of India, Delhi, Ashang Kasar explained the nature of the conflict in Manipur and pointed out the various factors that have contributed to it.
He categorically stated that the Meiteis were retaliating to attacks carried out against them on May 3, 2023.
"The genocide claim by the Kukis is totally baseless and concocted. The Kukis lie so well. Every indigenous people should condemn it," Ashang said.
"The leadership of the Kuki-Zo community cannot label the killings of their people in Manipur as institutionalized genocide as it was the case of natural reaction, retaliation and revenge from the Meitei/Meetei community against the killings, burning, ransacking and vandalizing of their people and houses in Moreh, Torbung and Churachandpur on 3rd May, 2023," Ashang said.
The conflict, he said, is not a State sponsored pogrom against a particular group of people.
Ashang identified crackdowns on infiltration from across the border and war on drugs, poppy had "provoked" Kukis who "make a lot of money from poppy cultivation".
He said the State Government had launched a drive against illegal immigrants--influx of people from across the international border.
This drive was aimed at identifying illegal immigrants who crossed into India through the porous border. If this is not done, the State would be flooded with illegal settlers who will eventually outnumber the indigenous people, Ashang said.
Further, the Government in order to save the State forest resources, evicted encroachers from the reserved forests and the riverine areas in Imphal valley.
"The State's top priorities of checking and preventing illegal immigrants to save the indigenous people came in the way of Kuki-Zo people's sinister design of expanding its territorial ambition and policy in the State," Ashang said.
He asserted that the Meiteis who had settled in the border town of Moreh for commercial purposes before the arrival of Kukis in the town were driven out en masse by the Kukis from May 3, 2023.
He recalled that during the violent Naga-Kuki conflict in the 90s (1992-97), the entire populace of Nagas were driven out from the Moreh town by the dreaded Kuki militants with the support of Myanmar's Chin people.
"It was their design, gambit and ploy to capture the epicentre of business and trade activities of the multi-ethnic State," Ashang said. (With inputs from India Today NE)