AFSPA extension is gross injustice against Manipur’s tribals, says body.
Haokip stated that the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) believes the selective application of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is part of a broader, more sinister agenda targeting the Kuki-Zo people. This selective enforcement, he argues, exemplifies an organized attempt at persecution and marginalization of their community. According to KIM, this move seeks to further alienate the Kuki-Zo people from mainstream society and erode their rights, exacerbating tensions. Haokip emphasized that the AFSPA extension disproportionately affects their community, serving as a tool for oppression rather than maintaining peace or ensuring security in the region.
Various tribal organizations in Manipur, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), have voiced strong criticism against the N. Biren Singh-led state government for extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) for another six months, starting from October 1. The AFSPA extension applies to the entire state, with the exception of 19 police stations located in seven districts of the Imphal Valley.
The KIM, which is the apex body representing the Kuki tribal community in Manipur, expressed its discontent, calling the extension a gross injustice to the tribal communities, particularly in the hilly regions dominated by these groups. These areas, mostly populated by tribals, are seen as unfairly targeted by the extension of AFSPA, while certain areas of the Imphal Valley are exempted.
Janghaolun Haokip, KIM’s Secretary of Information and Publicity, emphasized that the AFSPA extension not only represents a continuation of institutionalized bias but also underscores a deep-rooted injustice against the tribal communities, especially the Kuki-Zo people. According to Haokip, these communities have long been subjected to systemic oppression amid a deteriorating security situation in the state.
Haokip pointed to the ongoing violence in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, where law and order have seemingly collapsed, leaving radical Meitei organizations operating with impunity. He described this as a serious constitutional concern, suggesting that the situation is indicative of government negligence in safeguarding the rights and security of minority communities like the Kuki-Zo.
One of the key criticisms from KIM revolves around the partial application of AFSPA. The tribal body argued that while the situation in the Imphal Valley remains precarious, with escalating violence and unrest, the government’s decision to exclude the valley from AFSPA enforcement while imposing it in tribal areas is discriminatory. Haokip said that this exclusion highlights the role of the Manipur government in perpetuating what they believe is a “genocidal campaign” against the Kuki-Zo people.
“The selective application of AFSPA in Manipur’s hilly regions, while excluding the Imphal Valley despite the deteriorating situation, clearly signals that the state government is complicit in the violence against our people,” Haokip stated. He argued that this selective application exemplifies a broader agenda aimed at persecuting the Kuki-Zo people, making them targets of institutional oppression.
Haokip further added that the Manipur state government’s actions violate the core principles of equality, justice, and minority rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The state government’s policies, according to KIM, run counter to the ideals of a free and democratic nation. Haokip called on the central government to intervene immediately to address the situation and ensure that the rights of the Kuki-Zo people are protected.
In their statement, KIM condemned the state government’s conduct as “utterly reprehensible,” accusing it of pursuing discriminatory and oppressive policies that undermine the tribals’ constitutional rights. The organization stressed that the continued imposition of AFSPA in tribal-dominated areas represents a violation of the spirit of democracy, and the government’s actions have only deepened the divide between communities.
KIM also called for a permanent political solution to the ongoing conflict in Manipur. The organization stated that the Kuki-Zo people can no longer endure continuous persecution at the hands of the state government, which has failed to protect them from violence and injustice. “We demand an urgent and lasting solution to the ongoing conflict. Our community cannot be subjected to further suffering and oppression,” Haokip urged.
The tribal body’s statement also highlighted the broader implications of AFSPA’s extension beyond Manipur. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the application of AFSPA in select districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, with the extension coming into effect on October 1, similar to Manipur.
The controversial act, which grants the armed forces sweeping powers, has long been a point of contention in the northeastern region. Political parties, civil society organizations, and student groups, such as the influential North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, the All Naga Students’ Association, and the United Naga Council, have been demanding the complete repeal of AFSPA.
These groups argue that the AFSPA, which allows the armed forces to conduct raids, make arrests, and use force without prior permission in areas where the act is in effect, has led to numerous human rights violations and has been used as a tool of oppression against marginalized communities in the northeast.
In conclusion, KIM and other tribal organizations continue to call for the removal of AFSPA and an end to discriminatory policies that disproportionately affect the tribal populations in Manipur. The ongoing tension between the state government and tribal communities, particularly the Kuki-Zo, remains unresolved, as both parties seek a solution to the violence and instability that have plagued the region. Meanwhile, the demands for justice and equality persist, as tribal leaders call for the central government’s immediate and decisive intervention to restore peace and protect the rights of Manipur’s tribal populations.