Manipur violence: Tribal body demands bodies of Kuki members lying at Imphal mortuary

In a big development amidst the ongoing unrest in Manipur, the Committee on Tribal Unity, or the CoTU Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District decided to claim the Kuki-Zo dead bodies lying at the mortuary in Imphal as well after lifting the almost two-month-long economic blockade.

The Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi had on October 4 lifted the almost two-month-long Economic Blockade along the two important National Highways No.2 (Imphal-Dimapur road), and No.37 (Imphal - Jiribam road) as it considered the political dialogue between Government of India and UPF and KNO has reached an advanced crossroads.

A week after lifting the economic blockade, CoTU decided to claim the Kuki-Zo unclaimed dead bodies lying at the mortuary in Imphal for almost six months.

However, CoTU makes it very clear that the decision to claim the dead bodies is not in any way related or a step towards the peace and normalcy initiative of the Government.

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"But, it is definitely another step taken for the centre to pave the "fastest way" for a political solution under the political dialogue between the Government of India and the UPF and KNO which is in a very advanced stage that has already reached a crossroads.

Speaking to the media, CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen, flanked by the Committee's General Secretary, Lamminlun Singsit said that we appreciated the concerned authorities to facilitate the dead bodies of Kuki-Zo to be finally buried with dignity in our homeland.

He continued that we had a consultative meeting with all the victim's families from Kangpokpi district in the presence of the district authorities and unanimously decided to give our loved ones the highest dignity in the place of rest at the Martyr's Cemetery at Phaijang village in Kangpokpi district.

However, Ng. Lun Kipgen said that at the moment we cannot say when the dead bodies shall be claimed and buried.

In case of any unidentified dead bodies, CoTU appealed to the concerned authorities not to make hasty decisions in disposing of the dead bodies and urged the concerned authorities to ensure a mechanism by which all unidentified bodies can be re-verified and claimed.

CoTU also appealed to the concerned authorities to ensure the safe transportation of the dead bodies and urged various civil society organizations based in Imphal to let the dead bodies be brought home and refrain from political mileage over the dead bodies.

CoTU's Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen further said that the decision to claim the dead bodies of our loved ones has nothing to do with the peace initiative or dialogue rather it is a step and trust towards the central government to pave the "fastest way" in finding a political solution.

He said that we know the Centre Government is very much serious about the aged old Kuki-Zo political issue by carrying forward the political dialogue with the UPF and KNO in a very advanced stage that has already reached a crossroads, so, we the Kuki-Zo people also considered we so take a step forward to facilitate the political dialogue for the centre to expedite the talks by finding a political solution at the earliest.