Kuki Human Rights Council not authorised to speak on behalf of Kuki public: KIM

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on Wednesday clarified its position on a memorandum issued by the so-called Kuki Human Rights Council, stating that no such organisation has been mandated, affiliated with, or authorised to speak on behalf of the Kuki public.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur clarified that the memorandum circulated by the so-called “Kuki Human Rights Council” does not represent the official position, mandate, or collective sentiment of the Kuki tribes.

In a release, KIM stated that it was constrained to issue the statement in view of the controversy and public confusion arising from a memorandum purportedly submitted by an entity calling itself the “Kuki Human Rights Council”, which has subsequently gone viral on social media.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur categorically stated that it does not recognise or endorse any organisation by the name and style of “Kuki Human Rights Council” as a mandated or authorised human rights organisation representing the Kuki people. To the knowledge of the Kuki Inpi Manipur, no such organisation has been authorised or mandated to represent the Kuki community.

KIM stated that the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) and the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) remain the recognised and mandated organisations dealing with human rights matters within Kuki society.

Accordingly, any statement, memorandum, representation, or position issued in the name of any other purported human rights organisation must not be construed as representing the collective position or sentiment of the Kuki tribes, KIM stated.

The Kuki body appealed to all organisations, communities, and stakeholders who may have been affected by or concerned with the contents of the said memorandum not to attribute the views expressed therein to the Kuki community or its recognised institutions.

Stating that the memorandum represents only the views of the individuals responsible for issuing it and that the issuing entity has no mandate to speak for the Kuki tribes, KIM cautioned individuals or groups against assuming the name, authority, or representative status of Kuki institutions without proper mandate or recognition.

KIM also recalled that similar instances had been cautioned against previously.

The apex body reiterated that any further attempt to misuse the name of the Kuki community or issue statements purporting to represent the Kuki people without proper authorisation would be viewed seriously, and appropriate action would be taken against those responsible in accordance with applicable norms and law.

KIM also urged the authority concerned, to whom the said memorandum was addressed, to disregard the memorandum in its entirety and not to treat it as a representation or position of the Kuki community or its recognised institutions.