AIZAWL: A minimum of nine tribal MLAs and several civil society organizations from hills areas of Manipur are organising a meeting in Aizawl on Wednesday keeping in mind the ethnic violence that wracked Manipur in the past two weeks, a leader said here on Tuesday.
According to the leader, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) was formed recently by Kuki MLAs and leaders of various civil society organizations of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar group in Manipur.
The Forum is planning to hold a consultation on Wednesday evening to discuss the political agenda and future course of action, while reviewing the current situation in the state.
He said that security issues, separate administration for tribal people and relief measures will feature prominently in the discussion during the proposed meeting.
10 Kuki MLAs, including seven from the BJP, had earlier on May 12, urged the Centre to create a separate administration for the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar community in the aftermath of the violent clashes between their majority Meiteis and the tribal communities.
The MLAs had alleged that the violence was perpetrated by the majority Meitei community and was ‘tacitly supported’ by the BJP led state government.
“The unabated violence that began on May 3 last in Manipur perpetrated by majonty Meiteis tacitly supported by existing Government of Manipur against the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zorni hill tribals has already partitioned the state and effected a total separation from the State of Manipur,” the MLAs had said in a joint statement.
The Kuki MLAs had stated that existing under Manipur for their people is no longer possible as the hateful feelings against the tribal community had reached such a height. They pointed out that MLAs, ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, common people, women and even children were not spared in the recent ethnic violence.
Not only were thousands of houses burned down, even places of worship and properties of the tribal people were also not spared, they had said.
Meanwhile, Mizoram witnessed people from violence-hit Manipur continuing to trickle in as more than 1,000 people entered the state in the past two days, raising the total displaced people to 6,932, officials said on Tuesday.
Officials said a total of 2,401 people of Zo or Mizo ethnic tribes have taken shelter in Saitual district in the northeastern part of the state bordering Manipur.
Meanwhile, 2,259 internally displaced people from the neighbouring state is taking shelter in Aizawl district, which also shares a border with Manipur, while 2,099 people took shelter in Kolasib district near Assam border, they said.
Champhai, Khawzawl and Serchhip districts are providing shelter to the remaining 173 people.
Temporary relief camps have been set up to lodge the displaced people and many more are also given shelter by their relatives, officials said.
Massive efforts are being made by the state government to provide shelter, food and other relief materials to the displaced people, they added.
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