Mizoram CM Lalduhoma likely to visit Manipur to discuss ethnic violence

Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma may visit Imphal to meet his Manipur counterpart N. Biren Singh to address the ongoing ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities, an official statement said on Friday.

During a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday (August 1), Lalduhoma mentioned that Singh had invited him to Imphal and expressed his willingness to comply with the request.

"I was invited by Manipur chief minister Biren Singh to visit Imphal. I want to respond and comply with his request," Laldhuoma was quoted as telling Shah in the statement. 

However, the statement did not mention whether Lalduhoma would mediate in talks between organisations representing both the Meiteis and Kukis. 

Sources said that Singh made the request when he met Lalduhoma on the sidelines of the NITI Aayog's meeting in New Delhi on July 28.

Singh must have approached Lalduhoma as the Kukis share ethnic ties with the Mizos and many consider the Mizoram CM as their leader.

During the meeting with Shah, Lalduhoma also suggested that dialogue may be held between the Home Ministry and representatives of Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a Churachandpur based tribal organisation representing the Kuki-Zo community, to end the deadlock. 

On Monday, several ethnic based organisations  representing the Kuki-Hmar-Mizo-Zomi group formed a common political platform under the banner 'Kuki-Zo Council' for representing the Kuki-Zo communities in any future talks with the Centre. 

A complete committee and statement of purpose of the umbrella body will be drawn on August 7, a leader of Kuki organisation said.

The Kuki-Zo organisations, ten Kuki MLAs and Kuki insurgent groups , which are under suspension of operation with the Centre and Manipur government, have demanded a separate administration in the form of Union territory with legislature (Pondicherry model) to end the conflict and arrive at a political solution. 

However, Metei organisations rejected the plea and insisted on the implementation of an Assam type  National Register of Citizens (NRC) to detect "illegal migrants" belonging to Kuki-Zo communities  from neighbouring Myanmar.

Singh on Wednesday told the Assembly that 226 people have died in the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kukis since May last year. 

He had said that 39 people are still missing and over 59,000 displaced people are in relief camps. 

11,133 houses were burnt down and 4,569 others destroyed in the conflict, Singh also told the state assembly.