KOHUR Slams Manipur Govt's Fund Allocation as “Governance Weaponized Against Kuki-Zo IDPs”

The Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) has issued a powerful statement condemning the Government of Manipur and the Union of India for what it describes as “betrayal, negligence, and complicity” in an ongoing ethnic-cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo people, which began on May 3, 2023.

KOHUR termed the violence—marked by the displacement of over 50,000 people, destruction of more than 350 villages, and desecration of hundreds of churches—as “one of the darkest humanitarian catastrophes in modern Indian history.” The organization accused the authorities of granting impunity to the perpetrators, despite widespread allegations and documented evidence.

The group’s indignation intensified following a press release from the Chief Secretary of Manipur on September 12, 2025, outlining fund allocations that, according to KOHUR, fail to provide for relief or rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs), the majority of whom are Kuki-Zo. “This is not an administrative lapse,” KOHUR stated, “but governance weaponized against a persecuted minority.”

Citing a collapse in medical services in hill regions, KOHUR highlighted severe shortages in relief camps—lack of doctors, medicines, and functioning hospitals. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly remain especially vulnerable. The organization called the denial of healthcare a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and international treaties such as the ICESCR.

KOHUR also denounced the lack of accountability for high-profile figures accused of inciting the violence, including former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba. Despite fact-finding reports and forensic evidence implicating them, no legal action has been taken. “This is not inertia,” the group said, “it is calculated impunity.”

Invoking international law, including the ICCPR and the UN Convention Against Torture, KOHUR reminded the Indian government of its obligations to protect minorities and prosecute persecution. “Selective enforcement of the law cannot be tolerated,” the statement added.

On the issue of the recently announced financial allocations, KOHUR argued that the omission of IDP support reflects systemic discrimination and violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.

In a bold appeal, KOHUR urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider his proposed visit to Churachandpur, warning that unless it is to announce a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people, the visit would be “meaningless and dangerously provocative.” The organization emphasized that after 16 months of suffering, the only viable solution is a separate political and administrative arrangement to ensure the community’s survival.

“The Kuki-Zo people will not remain silent,” KOHUR warned. “If justice is denied, our demand for a separate future will only intensify.” The group concluded its statement with a clear message: “Justice delayed is justice denied, and peace without justice is oppression. The Prime Minister must now act as a statesman. The time for courage and truth is now.”