Imphal: After several rounds of peace talks are being broken down, the United Naga Council, (UNC), the apex Naga body in the region has reiterated its appeals to the warring actors – the Meiteis and the Kukis to come together at the earliest towards making a sort of a “joint declaration” for suspension of hostilities that entered 7 months.
The UNC Peace Committee urged the two warring groups stating that either somehow or someone, belonging to either the Meitei community or the Kuki-Zo community, must show magnanimity by declaring a unilateral ceasefire.
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The UNC Peace Committee members are optimistic that if any of the two fighting groups unilaterally declares a truce, the other would/may follow suit which is actually an act of bravery and and not otherwise.
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The UNC had met clandestine meetings with the leaders of the two warring communities separately but the specifics which transpired in the meetings were not disclosed.
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Notably, in September, the Naga peace committee had urged Governments at the centre and state to “work without fear and favour to ensure the rule of law”.
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Resentment between members of the Kuki tribe – who live in the hills, get economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education – and the Meiteis – who control the more prosperous lowlands – spilt over as they clashed on May 3, 2023.
The violence was triggered after a court in February suggested that the special privileges granted to the Kukis, comprising 16% of the state’s population, be extended to the Meiteis, who are a majority in Manipur.
At least 180 people have been killed and more than 61,000 displaced in the violence. Several rounds of peace talks between the groups have broken down.