An Opposed to Biren's Statement, There are No Reserved or Portected Forests in Kukis' Ancestral Homeland

Even after one year of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing and genocide pogrom against the Kukis, the fascist regime under communal chief minister N. Biren Singh still resort to spreading false and unfounded allegations against a particular community, dehumanising the minorities out of jealousy and hatred.

For the past 12 months, the Kuki and Meitei communities in India’s northeastern state of Manipur have been locked in what is arguably the country’s longest-running ethnic conflict of the 21st century under the watch of a federal government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As per reports, the ethnic clash occurred as a result of N. Biren Singh’s “political authoritarianism and ambition”, and his wrong policies of deliberately targeting the Kuki community. The report also noted the “state forces’ tacit support” of the clashes and the “dismemberment of law-and-order machinery”.

Unable to escape from the state’s genocidal pogrom he ignited against the minority community, narcissistic CM N. Biren Singh constantly change his narratives and statements to justify himself over the blood on his hands, but the truth prevails. The fact of the matter is that no major ethnic/communal violence takes place without the complicity or incompetence or both of the state machinery.

The Meitei Chief Minister, N Biren Singh on May 4 raised concerns over the declining forest cover in the state. In a post on the microblogging site X, Singh said, “We rely on mother nature for our survival, mother nature will continue to thrive without us”, sharing his purported mind boggling data of declining forest cover from 17,475 Sq. Km in 1987 to 16,598 Sq. Km in 2021.

He stated that 877 square kilometers of forest cover were destroyed, primarily for the cultivation of poppy, adding that eviction carried out since BJP Government came to power in Manipur stands at 291 encroachers. He also said that evictions from the Reserved Forest and Protected Forest were carried out throughout the state, and it was never targeted towards any particular community.

It must be noted  here  that  Biren’s concerns about poppy cultivation and its environmental  impact  are  disingenuous and aimed solely at targeting the Kuki community. Public data showed that while forest cover in the hills remains consistent, it has nearly vanished in the valley areas dominated by Meiteis. If environmental conservation is truly his concern, efforts should begin in the valley. The accusation against the Kukis of degrading the environment through jhumming or poppy cultivation is baseless and an evident diversion from the real issues.

The fact is that there are no Reserved or Protected Forests within the ancestral land of the Kukis. If any such things exist, it would be treated as illegal or unconstitutional as such proclamation of Reserved or Protected Forests is done without the knowledge and consent of the ancestral land owner(s).

What the Manipur Government failed to acknowledge is that of the land ownership rights of the Kuki tribes. It is worthwhile to ask, ‘Who owned the lands before Manipur was formed before India gained independence and before the British came?’.

Whose land is it anyway?

The Kukis have a clear history of them living freely in their ancestral lands. That they have fought the British in the Anglo- Kuki war 1917-1919 in defense of their ancestral land and freedom is well documented and acknowledged worldwide. Ironically, the state government had declared a restricted state holiday in acknowledgment of the centennial commemoration of the Anglo-Kuki war, also known as the Kuki Rising/ Kuki Rebellion.

With regard to their ancestral land, there has been no formal agreement between the Kukis and the government after the British left India. It is however understandable that since the ancestral lands of the Kukis politically fall under India and Myanmar, they will be subjected to the laws of the respective countries. But to disregard their interests and proclaim their ancestral lands without any consideration and consultations whatsoever is highly authoritarian and does not augur well for a state government in a democratic country that should adopt a people-centric approach to governance.

The continued attempts to demarcate the land of indigenous tribes into reserved land/forest would only alienate the already deprived and marginalized tribes in the state.

The Meiteis must confine themselves to their traditional and historical territory of 700 sq miles. Let the hill people live and develop their land freely as they deem fit. They must maintain the traditional boundaries. There should be no encroachment.

Many Meiteis talk as if they own the whole of Manipur and treat the tribals as subjects or migrants or guests which is ludicrous and utterly wrong. They must remember that they have a clearly defined territory gifted by the Maharaja of Kangleipak (Manipur). The rest belong to hill tribes.

Geography has placed them as neighbors. They have a common destiny. They must remove all social and political irritants that spoil their relationships. They shouldn’t covet each other’s land. Live and let live.

It is essential to recognize the rights of the hill tribals to live separately, independently, and with dignity, free from any form of dominion or social discrimination. It is necessary to consider separation based on historical, geographical, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural differences without any social discrimination or pollution against one another. It is essential to promote social, political, and economic justice. Neglecting this issue for trivial matters is unacceptable. The hill tribes should be able to exercise their right to self-determination and autonomy within the constitution of India without any interference from other groups. The government of India should take proactive measures to promote peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups in Manipur and ensure that their rights are protected and upheld.