Imphal: The Village Volunteers Coordinating Committee (VVCC), (Eastern, Southern and Western Zone) “In Defence of Our Ancestral Land and Freedom” of Kuki community has rejected opening of NH-2 in exchange of extension of SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups.
The VVCC expressed its deep shock and disappointment upon learning of the recent press release by the Ministry of Home Affairs, published on the Press information Bureau website, stating that the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to open National Highway-2 for the free movement of commuters and essential commodities in exchange for an extension of the Suspension of Operations agreement.
The VVCC said, it strongly condemns the unilateral decision, stating that it was taken without any consultation with the general public or the primary stakeholders directly affected by the ongoing conflict. “As such, we declare this decision null and void. We reaffirm our principled stance: there shall be no free movement for the Meitei community within Kuki-Zo territories until a separate administrative arrangement for the Kuki-Zo people is de jure.”
The Kuki village volunteers announced a complete boycott of the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC).
Should the KZC continue its activities without retracting this decision? it will bear full responsibility for any consequences that may arise, it said.
It said it wishes to clarify that the Suspension of Operations groups are not mandated representatives of the Kuki-Zo people.
“We do not oppose their decision to sign or extend the SoO pact with the Government of India. Whether they choose to uphold the territorial integrity of Manipur is a matter for the So0 groups themselves. However, such decisions have no bearing on the collective will or political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo population.”
“We urge all members of our community to remain united and vigilant in protecting and advancing the interests of the Kuki-Zo people,” the village volunteers committee said.
