Signing of peace accord with UNLF faction has impacted Manipur conflict: Kuki-Zomi-Hmar leaders

The Chief Minister of Manipur is using UNLF cadres as a proxy army, impacting the ongoing ethnic conflict.

The Chief Minister of Manipur is using cadres of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) as his proxy army and the signing of a peace accord with a faction of the militant outfit in November 2023 has had a serious impact on the ongoing ethnic conflict in the State, a delegation of Kuki-Zomi-Hmar leaders from Manipur said on Thursday, a day after meeting officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. 

“We raised this point at the meeting with the MHA officials on Wednesday. They said they will review it and accordingly they will take up the concerns,” said Ginza Vualzong, a leader of the Churachandpur-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, who was at the meeting. 

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The leaders also stated their opposition to the removal of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border, adding this too was brought up at the meeting. But just as the presser was under way on Thursday, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision to remove FMR. 

Reacting to this, Mr. Vualzong said the MHA officials told their delegation on Wednesday that the decision on the FMR was not taken on the basis of one particular group or community. “They added that the government has been considering this issue for a long time and said our concern will be brought to the higher level,” Mr. Vualzong said, even as Chinkhanlun Guite of the Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi said they might now explore legal options to make their case for the continuation of the FMR.

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Mr. Vualzong was among the tribal leaders from Manipur who had met with the MHA officials on Wednesday. On Thursday, they gathered at the Press Club of India in New Delhi for a presser under the aegis of Zo United — a unified platform comprising apex tribal bodies of Kuki, Zomi and Hmar tribes.