The Kuki-Zo tribes deny that Thangjing is a sacred site solely of the Meiteis, but both the Kukis and the Zo also claim ownership.
Imphal:
The Manipur government has intervened to calm claims and counterclaims by two tribes that the sacred Thangjing hill near the lakeside town of Moirang belongs to them.
In a strongly worded statement, citing several laws, the government said the claim by a “self-styled” village head that ownership of the hill came under his head was “a fabrication and a fabrication with the malicious intention of misleading the general public.” Is.”
“The present Thangjing hill range falls under the Churachandpur-Khaupum protected forests… The present Ukha-Loikhai settlement falls within the limits of this protected forest,” the government said in a statement on Monday.
It said the order for removal of Ukha-Loikhai settlement from the Churachandpur-Khaupam protected forests was canceled on November 7, 2022, adding that the matter is under investigation.
“Thangjing (Thang Ching) is a hill of historical importance due to which the Government of Manipur had declared it a protected site under Section 4 of the Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976…” the government said.
Thangjing Hills, Churachandpur (lower red circle) and Moirang (upper red circle)
Thangjing is the same hill range where a large cross was installed in January, an act that was seen as destabilizing in the violence-hit state, as there is a temple on the hill that is being worshiped by residents of Moirang, 60 km from the state capital Imphal. Admit it. Sacred and ancient.
Thangjing falls under the Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur district. The Congress government of Manipur had created Thangting sub-division (now Kangwai sub-division) in the Thangjing range in 2015, leading to tension between the communities.
The latest controversy began when the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) said in a statement on February 15 that the Thangjing hills belong to the Zo people, who will continue to exercise their constitutional right to religion and “will continue to establish their religious symbols.” ” “Enthusiasm motivates them.”
The ZSF pointed to visuals that emerged on social media, claiming that “a church was desecrated in Golvajung, Moreh (Khamenlok), where Meitei terrorists had the audacity to make a video inside the church, In which the living God was made fun of.” , (which) is an extreme example of sacrilege.”
However, the matter suddenly changed from ZSF’s criticism of the valley-majority Meiteis to the alleged encroachment of the land of the “chief” of Ukha-Loikhai village.
“Self-styled” village head Thenkhomaung Haokip refuted ZSF’s claim that the Thanjing Range belongs to the Zo tribe. He said Thangjing falls under the jurisdiction of their chiefdom, and “the ZSF’s distortion of the century-long history of the Ukha-Loikhai and Haokip-Kuki of Thangjing is very unfortunate and insulting.”
“A certain student body needs to respect this matter beyond history and traditions and not interfere in it, and not repeat the baseless Zogam/Zoland or Thangching or Thangsing in the historical Haokip reserve of Haokip-Kuki village of Ukha-Loikhai Should,” the village chief said in a statement on February 16, following which the Manipur government sought to end the dispute by citing a state law protecting ancient sites.
The twist does not end here.
Thadau leader raised questions on “self-proclaimed” village head
An influential leader of a section of the Thadau tribe, who for decades have been resisting the Kukis’ attempt to bring the Thadau under the Kuki umbrella – to call them Thadau Kukis – told NDTV that the “self-proclaimed” village head These words have been used. Haokip-kuki is also misleading.
This section of the Thadau tribe is asking the government to remove the recognition of “any Kuki” as a tribe because this definition leaves open interpretation as to who is a Kuki which is open to abuse – as is the principle Anyone can be “Any Kuki Tribe” in the form. , the leader told NDTV, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
“For the sake of clarity, the Loikhai chief will have to prove in court that the government’s claim about present-day Thangjing is wrong, and his claim to the Haokip Reserve, 1907, i.e. present-day Loikhai village, is correct,” the Thadou leader told NDTV. The leader said, “This has been done to avoid any confusion and claimants in future. The matter is still not sub-judice, so this approach of the government seems right.”
Thangjing hill falls under Churachandpur district, and is near Moirang, where the large freshwater lake Loktak is situated.
The Meitei community of Moirang were going on a pilgrimage to Thangjing hill, which is home to the deity Ibudhou Thangjing. They believe that the Thangjing hill site is at least 2,000 years old.
The Kuki and Zo tribes – who are demanding a separate administration from Manipur under the banner of the Kuki-Zo tribes – call this hill range Thangting and Thangsing respectively.
The Kuki-Zo tribes deny that the hill is specifically a sacred site to the Meiteis. Ginza Wuelzong, spokesperson of the Kuki-Zo group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), had denied encroachment on any sacred site of the Meitei community.
“The cross is a symbol of Christianity and can be seen in all Christian homes. Making the cross on Thangjing hill is also a form of showing our faith and religion. It should not be considered as an act against any other religion. ” Mr Wuelzong told NDTV on February 3.
Despite a Supreme Court order on December 16, 2023, that the Manipur government must ensure the safety of all religious buildings, including churches and temples, the cross was installed on January 25. The Supreme Court order came in response to the vandalism of 386 religious structures – mostly churches and some temples – following the outbreak of ethnic conflict between the hill-majority Kuki-Zo tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis.
The Kuki-Zo tribes, who have 10 MLAs in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, are demanding a separate administration from Manipur from May 2023. They have cited a complete breakdown of trust between them and the Meiteis as one of the major reasons behind this. Pressure for a different administration. More than 180 people have been killed in the violence and thousands have been internally displaced.
However, Kuki rebel groups have been working for separation from Manipur for a long time. At least 25 Kuki insurgent groups have signed tripartite suspension of operations (SOO) agreements with the Center and the state. Under the SoO agreement, rebels are housed in designated camps. There have been allegations that full attendance has not been observed in many SOO camps.
