New Delhi:
On Saturday, 3 May 2023, after the caste violence in Manipur, on Saturday, Kuki and Zomi tribes and members of the Meetri community held separate demonstrations at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday.
Wearing black clothes, cookie protesters mourned the loss of those killed in violence and reiterated the demand of a separate administration for their community.
The protest was organized by the Swadeshi Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and Cookie-Jo Mahila Manch, Delhi (Kzwfd).
The protesters raised their demands, including the creation of a separate administrative set-up for the cookie tribes due to their concerns about security, displacement and lack of justice.
“We are asking the government to give us a solution, let us live a normal life like people in another state,” said Gladi Vipay Honjan, a cookie worker from Delhi.
He said that the community is suffering even after two years, there is no justice for violence, displacement and destruction.
Opposition against cookie tribes in Jantar Mantar in Delhi
The protesters saw a moment of silence for the killed and displaced people, and they read, “Call of freedom: separate administration” and “no justice, no peace”.
Mite protesters dressed in white gathered under the banner of Delhi Meitei Coordination Committee.
He demanded justice, rehabilitation and a safe return of all internal displaced persons in his original homes.
Their demands were involved in abolishing cross -border terrorism, withdrawal of support to armed groups under the suspension of operation (SOO) agreement and removing buffer zones dividing communities.
RK Khidasana, a Metei Guard from Charachandpur, Manipur, shared his experience of crisis.
“Since May 3, 2023, I have been displaced from my house and I want to go back and settle again. I urge the government to give us justice,” he said.
He said, “Around 4:30 pm (on May 3, 2023), violence took place in our area, houses were set on fire and people fled for security.”
Both groups emphasized the need for a long -term solution for the ongoing ethnic tensions in the northeastern state.
Since May 2023, more than 260 people have been killed and thousands of people have become homeless in violence between mathis and kukis in Manipur.
The valley-headed Metei community and more than a dozen different tribes are collectively known as wells, which are prominent in some mountainous areas of Manipur, fighting on many issues such as land rights and political representation. More than 260 have died in violence and approximately 50,000 have been displaced internally.
