Kuki-Zo Leadership Meet in Guwahati Draws Red Line, Demands Political Settlement Before 2027

in a decisive political assertion, a Joint Meeting comprising representatives of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) Groups, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), and sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) today adopted a series of hardline resolutions, firmly reiterating the demand for a Union Territory with Legislature for the Kuki-Zo people and setting clear political deadlines for both the Centre and the State.

The high-level meeting, held in Guwahati, undertook a comprehensive review of the prevailing political and humanitarian situation, recalling the formal political demand submitted in September 2023 and the over a year of sustained ethnic violence and targeted persecution faced by the Kuki-Zo community. The participants expressed grave concern over what they described as brutalities inflicted upon the community, including allegations of active complicity and support by state agencies, a charge that sharply indicts the existing governance framework.

The meeting further took note of what it termed an unprecedented de facto demographic and administrative separation that has persisted for the last 32 months, underscoring that the political reality on the ground has irreversibly altered the relationship between the Kuki-Zo people and the State of Manipur.

Against this backdrop, the Joint Body unanimously resolved that the Central Government must urgently expedite a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution to establish a Union Territory with Legislature, backed by robust constitutional safeguards to protect land ownership and indigenous rights of the Kuki-Zo people.

Significantly, the meeting set a clear timeline, resolving that the political settlement must be finalized and formally signed before the expiry of the normal tenure of the present Manipur Legislative Assembly, leaving no room for prolonged negotiations or political ambiguity.

On the question of restoring an elected government in Manipur, the Joint Meeting laid down strict pre-conditions. It resolved that no new government formation would be acceptable unless it provides a written, time-bound commitment explicitly supporting the negotiated settlement for a Union Territory with Legislature within the remaining Assembly tenure.

In a strong warning to both the Centre and the State, the meeting further resolved that in the absence of such political commitment, it would respect the expressed political will of the people by refraining from any participation in the formation of an elected government in Manipur.

Drawing a final political red line, the Joint Lungthu Meeting declared that a definitive political solution for the Kuki-Zo people must be achieved before the General Election of 2027, making it clear that continued delay would be unacceptable and politically untenable.

The resolutions adopted today mark one of the most forthright and unified political positions articulated so far by Kuki-Zo leadership, signaling a shift from appeals to non-negotiable constitutional demands, and placing the onus squarely on the Central Government to act decisively.