Kuki-Zo Community Holds Peaceful Protest in Manipur's Saikul Against Alleged Unilateral Meitei Resettlement at Dolaithabi

Hundreds of Kuki-Zo people under the banner of Kuki Inpi Saikul on Sunday staged a peaceful protest in Manipur's Saikul Sub-Division in Kangpokpi district, strongly opposing what they described as the government's "unilateral and forceful" move to resettle displaced Meitei families at Dolaithabi without the consent or mutual agreement of the two communities.

The demonstration witnessed the participation of men, women, and youth carrying placards and raising slogans denouncing the proposed resettlement, which they alleged was being pursued in disregard of the prevailing ground realities and the unresolved ethnic conflict that has gripped the state since May 2023.

Protesters asserted that any attempt to facilitate the return or resettlement of displaced persons must be based on mutual understanding and consensus between the two communities rather than through unilateral government action. They maintained that any resettlement process imposed without consultation would only deepen mistrust and further complicate efforts to restore lasting peace.

Protesters also highlighted that the community was not opposed to peace or reconciliation but insisted that genuine peace could never be achieved by overlooking justice, security, and the concerns of one community.

"Justice cannot be one-sided. Any resettlement plan must be bilateral, not unilateral, and should proceed only through mutual agreement between both communities. We are not against peace, but peace without justice will never be accepted under any circumstance," one of the leaders said.

The protesters warned that any attempt to enforce resettlement without addressing the root causes of the conflict and without ensuring equal justice for all affected communities could aggravate tensions instead of fostering normalcy.

Throughout the demonstration, protesters raised slogans such as "No Peace, No Resettlement," "We Want Justice," and "Justice Before Peace," demanding that the government abandon what they termed a one-sided approach and instead pursue an inclusive, negotiated process acceptable to all stakeholders.

The protest concluded peacefully, with the community reiterating that any durable political or humanitarian solution in Manipur must be founded on justice, mutual consent, and equal treatment of all communities, rather than unilateral administrative decisions.