Memorandum submitted to Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Office of the
ZOMI COUNCIL
HEADQUARTERS: LAMKA
The 25th November, 2019
To
Shri Narendra Modi
Hon’ble Prime Minister
Government of India
Subject: Appeal for expediting L PF KNO Political Talks and demand for creation of Zoland Territorial Council (ZTC).
Hon’ble Sir,
The Zomi Council Headquarters is pleased to learn that several rounds of talks had been completed, and substantial grounds have been covered in the ongoing political dialogue with United Peoples Front (UPF) & Kuki National Organisation (KNO). The Council also would like to express appreciation for the sincerity and commitment of the Government of India to make an honourable and time-bound political solution through the tripartite talks.
Political autonomy for the Zo Peoples in Manipur has been a long pending issue that deserves priority and attention of the Government of India and the Government of Manipur. It is clear from historical, political and administrative perspectives that there has always been separation of administration between the Hills areas where the tribal people settles and Valley areas where Meitei people settle in Manipur. And that the Hill Areas has always been living in relative autonomy without any direct administration from Manipur before and after its merger with India.
In present day Manipur, the historical separation and autonomy between the Hills and Valley has been symbolically marked with the introduction of Article 371 C, a nonfunctional Hill Areas Committee and an Autonomous District Council without autonomy. This neither justifies the historical autonomy nor satisfies the political aspiration of tribal people in the Hill Areas of Manipur.
After 42 years of our struggle for a better and workable Autonomous Council, we are upbeat to learn of your commitment to solve insurgency issues in Northeast India, including Manipur, through peaceful, democratic process. In response to the Union Government’s initiatives, the various Zomi armed groups under the banner of UPF & KNO entered SoO in 2008 and it was under your able leadership that Political Talk actually started in 2017.
It is also pertinent to recall the assurance made by Shri Rajnath Singhji, former Union Home Minister to create Autonomous Territorial Council for the Zo People, who were categorized as Kuki-Chin group by the British ethnographers and colonial administrators, in Manipur during his Election Campaign at Lamka in Churachandpur, Manipur in 2017. We reciprocate his promises by voting BJP party into power in the State. We are equally delighted to learn that the Union Government has a proposal to create Territorial Council for Nagas of Manipur. In fact, similar political arrangement was promised to non-Naga tribes (Zo People) and Talks is going on the issue. This would mean the creation of two autonomous territorial councils, for the Nagas and Zo People respectively, in place of the existing nonfunctional 6 (sixs) ADCs. Such arrangement is what we, the Zomi Council, is praying for today.
Since the peace process is a part of decolonization of the region, the Zomi Council would like to highlight that the indigenous cultural identity should be restored over the colonial imposed categories. Among the 34 recognized tribes in Manipur, around 20 tribes subscribe to Naga as their identity while only Thadou tribe, any Kuki tribes and a few splinters of Thadou affiliated under Kuki fold. However, besides the 9 tribes under the Zomi Council other tribes like Mizo, Hmar, Ralte and few others subscribes to Zo as their ethnic indigenous name in Manipur. We hope and pray that our indigenous identity would be reinstated as a part of the peace settlement to restore our dignity which the colonial government had destroyed.
Therefore, in summation of the above historical, political, sociological and contemporary reality in Manipur, the Zomi Council Headquarters along with its Constituent Nine Tribes and Frontal Organisations would like to explicitly state that:
i) We fully support the ongoing political process with IJPF & KNO and urge your honour to expedite the Talks for an early conclusion;
ii) We demand for the creation of Zoland Territorial Council (ZTC) for a judicious and democratic representation of tribes for an autonomous governance and development in Manipur through (he ongoing Political Talks with IJPF and KNO based on Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The creation of ZTC will not vitiate the territorial integrity of Manipur State nor
breach the existing Constitution of India. It will rather be an initiative that will usher in harmony and peaceful coexistence within the state of Manipur.
We, therefore, request you to kindly expedite political talks with UPF and KNO and constitute a workable political autonomy.
Thanking you.
With sincere regards,
(JOHN K. NGAIHTE)
Chairman
Zomi Council Headquarters
(NANGZAKAI SUANTE)
General Secretary
Zomi Council Headquarters
(D.K. MANG)
President
Paite Tribe Council
General Headquarters
(CHINKHAMANG NGAIHTE)
General Secretary
Paite Tribe Council
General Headquarters
(KHATKHOTONG BAITE)
President
Vaiphei People’s Council
General Headquarters
(NANGZAKAI SUANTE
General Secretary
Vaiphei People’s Council
General Headquarters
(L.K.TINSOI GANGTE)
General Secretary
Vaiphei People’s Council
(PAUKHOGEN GANGTE)
General Secretary
Gangte Tribe Council
General Headquarters
(ZAM KHUA CIN NAULAK)
Vice-President
Tedim-Chin Union
General Headquarters
(S.ZAM KHAN PAU)
General Secretary
Tedim-Chin Union
General Headquarters
(THANGKHAMANG)
President
Thangkhal Tribe Organisation
General Headquarters
(T.GINSUANLAL)
General Secretary
Thangkhal Tribe Organisation
General Headquarters
(THONGKHOLIAN)
President
Mate Tribe Council
General Headquarters
(HOLKHOLEN)
General Secretary
Mate Tribe Council
General Headquarters
(WANGKHOTHANG)
President
Kom Union, Manipur
General Headquarters
(SERTO MINTHANG)
General Secretary
Kom Union, Manipur
General Headquarters
(THANGKHANLIAN)
President
United Zou Organisation
Lamka Block
(P.TUNZAMANG)
President
Phiamphu Phungpi Organisation
(A leading Clan of Zou Tribe)
Copy to:
1.Shri Am it Shah, Hon’ble Union Home Minister
2.Shri A. B. Mathur, Interocutor, UPF & KNO
3. Shri Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, NE In-charge
4. Shri N. Biren Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur
5. Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur
6. Dr. S.Ibocha Singh, Interlocutor, Government of Manipur
7. Guard file
(NANGZAKAI SUANTE)
General Secretary
Zomi Council Headquarters
Gangte Tribe Council | Korn Union. Manipur | Mate Tribe Council | Paite Tribe Council | Simte Tribe Council | Tedim Chin Union | Thangkhal Tribe Org.| United Zou Org.| Vaiphei Peoples’ Council
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