Amid repeated failures to mediate talks between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zos in Manipur, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma is set to play a crucial role in the peace negotiations.
Lalduhoma is set to mediate between Kuki-Zo organisations and the Manipur government, as well as between Kuki-Zo representatives and Meitei community groups.
The involvement of Lalduhoma, viewed positively by the Kuki-Zo community due to shared ethnic bonds, marks a potential turning point in the efforts to resolve the long-standing tensions in Manipur.
During a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on August 1, Lalduhoma mentioned that Singh had invited him to Imphal and expressed his willingness to comply with the request.
The request was made during a meeting on the sidelines of the NITI Aayog session in New Delhi on July 28. Lalduhoma, however, did not provide further details about the discussions.
This move is particularly significant as Kuki-Zo organisations have consistently avoided talks involving Singh, a Meitei, whom they hold responsible for the ongoing conflict.
Singh’s appeal to Lalduhoma reflects the ethnic ties between the Kukis and Mizos, with the former viewing the Mizoram CM as a trusted leader.
Additionally, Lalduhoma’s political advisor, Muanpuia Punte, visited the Kuki-majority Churachandpur district in Manipur.
Punte attended a Kuki Village Volunteers event and engaged in informal talks with local leaders regarding the proposed peace negotiations.
Despite these developments, a leader from a prominent Kuki-Zo organization indicated that they have yet to receive a formal invitation from the Centre for the talks.
The Kuki-Zo organisations, along with 10 Kuki MLAs and Kuki insurgent groups, currently under the suspension of operations (SoO) pact with the Centre and Manipur government, have demanded a separate Union territory with legislature, similar to Pondicherry, as a solution to the conflict.
Meitei organisations, however, have rejected this proposal and instead call for an Assam-type National Register of Citizens (NRC) to identify "illegal migrants" from the Kuki-Zo communities.
The Manipur Chief Minister told the Assembly recently that the ethnic violence has resulted in 226 deaths since May 2023, with 39 people still missing and over 59,000 displaced in relief camps.
The conflict has also led to the destruction of 11,133 houses and damage to 4,569 others, he added.
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