Demographic and cartographic aggression for balkanisation of Manipur
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Brigadier L Ibotombi Singh (Retd), Yudh Seva Medal
(The recent so-called proposal for a political dialogue by the four member team of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) with the pre-condition for a Separate Administration of Kuki-Zo community in Manipur must be treated as no proposal by the Central Govt as the pre-condition is Balka-nisation of Manipur by means of Demographic and Cartographic Aggression)
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, once said “we have 50 million Muslims in Europe. There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe—without swords, without guns, without conquest—will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades”. Muhammad Gaddafi, the eccentric ruler of Libya for 42 years (Sep 1969-Oct 2011), must be smiling in his tomb as some communities in Manipur are preaching and practicing his philosophy.
The population of Chin-Kuki-Zo Tribe in Manipur as per 1881 census was 17,204 and in 2011 their population rose to 4,48,214, an exponential growth of 26 times in this period. However, population of Old Kuki (Indigenous) Tribe was 8180 as per 1881 census and 83,332 in 2011 (See Figure Below), a mere growth of 10 times. Equally of concern is the enormous growth of Migrants and Pangals (Manipuri Muslims), Migrants from 6647 in 1881 to 1,66,240 in 2011, with an annual growth rate of 18.47 percent and Muslims from 4881 (then a mere 2.21 percent of Manipur’s total population) to 2,39,836 in 2011 (forming 8.40 percent of Manipur’s total population) with an annual growth rate of 37.03 percent. This is supported by the fact that there are large percentage of Chin-Kuki-Zo Tribe in Chura- chandpur, Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills) districts and other settlement areas who cannot speak Manipuri language, when Manipur language is compulsory upto class 8th standard under Board of Secondary Education Manipur, reinforcing the fact that they are largely migrants from Myanmar and other areas. As compared to the above, the annual growth of Meitei community is just a mere 7.17 percent, lowest amongst all other communities, from 1,24,254 in 1881 to 12,82,296 in 2011.
Please Insert Table Here
With the annual growth rate of 15.82 percent, the present extrapolated size of Chin-Kuki-Zo community in Manipur will be around 11,20,535. This figure excludes large scale illegal Zo-Kuki migrants from Myanmar, in particular in Churachandpur and Kang-pokpi Districts, which was at its peak from 2001 to 2023, because of vote bank politics as they were easily enrolled in the voters list. Therefore, the blame lies with the successive Governments for their narrow political gains. Another peculiar case is encroachment on Government “Khas Land” and “Reserved Forest Areas” in the above districts and Sadar Hills District, which facilitate any person having lump sum money including ex servicemen who immediately after retirement, purchases these “Khas Land” from the “Gaon Bura”. Thereafter, the new owner of the land becomes “Headman” of such locality, soon he permits these illegal Zo-Kuki migrants for permanent settlement. In the process he converts the land into a village and earns the title of “Gaon Bura”. This, vicious cycle continues and in the process the “Demographic Aggression” is achieved. This is proven by the fact that Kangpokpi and Jiribam Districts, now have a majority of Zo-Kuki community, thereby other communities like Nepali have become a minority.
The statement by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma asking for the unity of the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) community spread across Myanmar and Bangladesh based on ethnic and religious lines during an official visit to the US in September 2024 was unfortunate and absolutely irrele- vant. Such statement, in future, must be considered as sedition and secession, and relevant Acts under the National Security Act must be applied against such individuals. It can be extra- polated that the recent demand by the four members team of Kuki-Zo Council asking for a Separate Administration for Kuki-Zo community in Manipur to Interlocutor Mr AK Mishra, the Centre’s representative, is influenced by the statement of Mizo-ram Chief Minister Laldu- homa who is tacitly supporting the causes of Zo-Kuki-Chin communities. The overall aim is for creation of greater Zo-Kuki-Chin by cartographic aggression and demographic explosion in Manipur and to achieve their ulterior aim by carving out areas from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur and later merge with Mizoram, which should be a cause of serious concern and warning bell to the Govt of India. The so-called proposal for a political dialogue by the four member team of Kuki-Zo Council with a pre- condition must be treated as no proposal by the Central Govt as the demand is Bal-kanisation of Manipur by means of Demographic and Cartographic Aggression.
The earliest recorded history of the Manipur Region is around 900 CE. It was first established by King Loiyumba in 1110 CE as the Kingdom of Kangleipak with a written Constitution. Later, King Khagemba expanded the kingdom of Manipur to its peak during his reign from 1597–1652 CE. Manipur itself is an example of “Unity in Diversity” having 34 indigenous communities since 1110 CE and any attempt to break the unity of the State must be thwarted loud and clear. In the past, attempts have been made to carve out areas of Manipur by way of cartographic and demographic aggression by some community which the Govet of India wittingly has thwarted.
Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes between two warring tribes of Zo-Chin-Kukis and Meiteis for the last one year and eight months and there appears to be no immediate solution. The role of various Kuki militant groups supported by foreign elements from Myanmar in keeping the ‘Pot Boiling’ at the right temperature which include rampant firing on sporadic basis against defenceless Meitei villagers appears to be masterminded by some influential persons and indulgence of foreign hands cannot be ruled out.
The Kuki militant groups KNA (Kuki National Army- formed by Haokip clan) and KNF (Kuki National Front- formed by Kipgen clan) were formed in early 1990s post Naga-Chin-Kuki ethnic clash in latter part of 1980s. Initially, equipped with primitive weapons like single and double barrel guns, bolt action rifles and were earlier tacitly considered by Security Forces as a countervailing force against Naga insurgent groups, viz-NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K). Subsequently, other Kuki militant organizations like Kuki Independent Army, Thadou Revolutionary Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army (Hansing Clan), Zoumi Revolutionary Front and Kuki Defence Force were formed to protect their own clans and presently 25 such armed groups exist in Manipur. The source of finance for these insurgent groups are through poppy cultivations, illegal tax collections and extortions, narco-finance being a major source.
The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed between 25 Kuki militant groups and Government of India has in fact acted as a catalyst in recouping these groups by way of consolidation and procurement of modern small arms including snipers and area weapons. Thus, the appeasement policy by the Central Government, has in fact failed, instead benefitted the Kuki Militant groups under SoO.
Post military crack-down in Asia’s Golden Triangle, once a safe haven for drug mafias, against druglords, the base has shifted to hilly region of Manipur neighbouring Myanmar. These Myanmar’s Chin-Kukis started poppy plantations, manufacture and supply of heroin, with the blessings of Kuki militant groups with assurance of getting large amount of these drug money. Besides, large deforestations, the illegal immigrants started settling in Reserved Forest areas. This is reinforced by the fact that Churachandpur’s Khoupum Protected Forest area once free from settlement, now has more than 30 villages which prove to be illegal settlements and their residents’ “encroachers”.
In conclusion, the Government of India, at all cost, must not permit balka-nisation of Manipur. Poli- tical dialogue with the warring Zo-Chin-Kuki commu- nities must be without any pre-conditions and without fragmenting the 1150 years old Manipur Kingdom, now Manipur State.
(The recent so-called proposal for a political dialogue by the four member team of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) with the pre-condition for a Separate Administration of Kuki-Zo community in Manipur must be treated as no proposal by the Central Govt as the pre-condition is Balka-nisation of Manipur by means of Demographic and Cartographic Aggression)
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, once said “we have 50 million Muslims in Europe. There are signs that Allah will grant Islam victory in Europe—without swords, without guns, without conquest—will turn it into a Muslim continent within a few decades”. Muhammad Gaddafi, the eccentric ruler of Libya for 42 years (Sep 1969-Oct 2011), must be smiling in his tomb as some communities in Manipur are preaching and practicing his philosophy.
The population of Chin-Kuki-Zo Tribe in Manipur as per 1881 census was 17,204 and in 2011 their population rose to 4,48,214, an exponential growth of 26 times in this period. However, population of Old Kuki (Indigenous) Tribe was 8180 as per 1881 census and 83,332 in 2011 (See Figure Below), a mere growth of 10 times. Equally of concern is the enormous growth of Migrants and Pangals (Manipuri Muslims), Migrants from 6647 in 1881 to 1,66,240 in 2011, with an annual growth rate of 18.47 percent and Muslims from 4881 (then a mere 2.21 percent of Manipur’s total population) to 2,39,836 in 2011 (forming 8.40 percent of Manipur’s total population) with an annual growth rate of 37.03 percent. This is supported by the fact that there are large percentage of Chin-Kuki-Zo Tribe in Chura- chandpur, Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills) districts and other settlement areas who cannot speak Manipuri language, when Manipur language is compulsory upto class 8th standard under Board of Secondary Education Manipur, reinforcing the fact that they are largely migrants from Myanmar and other areas. As compared to the above, the annual growth of Meitei community is just a mere 7.17 percent, lowest amongst all other communities, from 1,24,254 in 1881 to 12,82,296 in 2011.
Please Insert Table Here
With the annual growth rate of 15.82 percent, the present extrapolated size of Chin-Kuki-Zo community in Manipur will be around 11,20,535. This figure excludes large scale illegal Zo-Kuki migrants from Myanmar, in particular in Churachandpur and Kang-pokpi Districts, which was at its peak from 2001 to 2023, because of vote bank politics as they were easily enrolled in the voters list. Therefore, the blame lies with the successive Governments for their narrow political gains. Another peculiar case is encroachment on Government “Khas Land” and “Reserved Forest Areas” in the above districts and Sadar Hills District, which facilitate any person having lump sum money including ex servicemen who immediately after retirement, purchases these “Khas Land” from the “Gaon Bura”. Thereafter, the new owner of the land becomes “Headman” of such locality, soon he permits these illegal Zo-Kuki migrants for permanent settlement. In the process he converts the land into a village and earns the title of “Gaon Bura”. This, vicious cycle continues and in the process the “Demographic Aggression” is achieved. This is proven by the fact that Kangpokpi and Jiribam Districts, now have a majority of Zo-Kuki community, thereby other communities like Nepali have become a minority.
The statement by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma asking for the unity of the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) community spread across Myanmar and Bangladesh based on ethnic and religious lines during an official visit to the US in September 2024 was unfortunate and absolutely irrele- vant. Such statement, in future, must be considered as sedition and secession, and relevant Acts under the National Security Act must be applied against such individuals. It can be extra- polated that the recent demand by the four members team of Kuki-Zo Council asking for a Separate Administration for Kuki-Zo community in Manipur to Interlocutor Mr AK Mishra, the Centre’s representative, is influenced by the statement of Mizo-ram Chief Minister Laldu- homa who is tacitly supporting the causes of Zo-Kuki-Chin communities. The overall aim is for creation of greater Zo-Kuki-Chin by cartographic aggression and demographic explosion in Manipur and to achieve their ulterior aim by carving out areas from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur and later merge with Mizoram, which should be a cause of serious concern and warning bell to the Govt of India. The so-called proposal for a political dialogue by the four member team of Kuki-Zo Council with a pre- condition must be treated as no proposal by the Central Govt as the demand is Bal-kanisation of Manipur by means of Demographic and Cartographic Aggression.
The earliest recorded history of the Manipur Region is around 900 CE. It was first established by King Loiyumba in 1110 CE as the Kingdom of Kangleipak with a written Constitution. Later, King Khagemba expanded the kingdom of Manipur to its peak during his reign from 1597–1652 CE. Manipur itself is an example of “Unity in Diversity” having 34 indigenous communities since 1110 CE and any attempt to break the unity of the State must be thwarted loud and clear. In the past, attempts have been made to carve out areas of Manipur by way of cartographic and demographic aggression by some community which the Govet of India wittingly has thwarted.
Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes between two warring tribes of Zo-Chin-Kukis and Meiteis for the last one year and eight months and there appears to be no immediate solution. The role of various Kuki militant groups supported by foreign elements from Myanmar in keeping the ‘Pot Boiling’ at the right temperature which include rampant firing on sporadic basis against defenceless Meitei villagers appears to be masterminded by some influential persons and indulgence of foreign hands cannot be ruled out.
The Kuki militant groups KNA (Kuki National Army- formed by Haokip clan) and KNF (Kuki National Front- formed by Kipgen clan) were formed in early 1990s post Naga-Chin-Kuki ethnic clash in latter part of 1980s. Initially, equipped with primitive weapons like single and double barrel guns, bolt action rifles and were earlier tacitly considered by Security Forces as a countervailing force against Naga insurgent groups, viz-NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K). Subsequently, other Kuki militant organizations like Kuki Independent Army, Thadou Revolutionary Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army (Hansing Clan), Zoumi Revolutionary Front and Kuki Defence Force were formed to protect their own clans and presently 25 such armed groups exist in Manipur. The source of finance for these insurgent groups are through poppy cultivations, illegal tax collections and extortions, narco-finance being a major source.
The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed between 25 Kuki militant groups and Government of India has in fact acted as a catalyst in recouping these groups by way of consolidation and procurement of modern small arms including snipers and area weapons. Thus, the appeasement policy by the Central Government, has in fact failed, instead benefitted the Kuki Militant groups under SoO.
Post military crack-down in Asia’s Golden Triangle, once a safe haven for drug mafias, against druglords, the base has shifted to hilly region of Manipur neighbouring Myanmar. These Myanmar’s Chin-Kukis started poppy plantations, manufacture and supply of heroin, with the blessings of Kuki militant groups with assurance of getting large amount of these drug money. Besides, large deforestations, the illegal immigrants started settling in Reserved Forest areas. This is reinforced by the fact that Churachandpur’s Khoupum Protected Forest area once free from settlement, now has more than 30 villages which prove to be illegal settlements and their residents’ “encroachers”.
In conclusion, the Government of India, at all cost, must not permit balka-nisation of Manipur. Poli- tical dialogue with the warring Zo-Chin-Kuki commu- nities must be without any pre-conditions and without fragmenting the 1150 years old Manipur Kingdom, now Manipur State.