Manipur: Valley-based civil organisation to march towards hill districts on March 8
Federation of Civil Society (FOCS), a valley-based civil organization, will march towards the hill districts on March 8. The organization plans to march from Imphal to Senapati. Several Kuki-Zo organizations have opposed the march, warning them to stay away from Kuki areas.
The Federation of Civil Society Organizations has called on all communities to support the Peace Message Rally that will be held from Imphal to Senapati (which is a Naga-dominated area). FOCS President Th. Manihar expressed appreciation for the recent initiative allowing free movement for all communities across the state’s highways and roads. He urged the removal of all red zones and buffer zones in the state and called for all people from all communities to unite once again.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed that free movement across the state be ensured from March 8 onwards. The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) had announced restrictions on movement in the Kuki-Zo areas; even the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone stated that there would be no free movement in Kuki-Zo areas before the establishment of a Separate Administration/Union Territory with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo people.
Since May 3, 2023, most of the roads and highways have been blockaded, and Meiteis do not venture into Kuki-residing areas in the hills and vice versa. Private checkpoints have been set up on highways by different groups. The Home Minister, in a meeting last week, directed that free movement be ensured for people on all roads in Manipur from March 8 and
