Guwahati, Nov 8: The Liangmai community of Manipur has called on President Droupadi Murmu to declare the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) Kangpokpi an unlawful organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Liangmai Naga Council, representing this scheduled tribe (ST) with a significant presence across various districts in Manipur, has requested legal measures against COTU for allegedly inciting violence and disrupting public order in the region.
The appeal follows a statement made by COTU’s general secretary, Lamminlun Singsit, on October 29. Singsit had criticized Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s recent visit to the Senapati district for the Liangmai Chaga Ngee festival, referring to it as “trespass” and a “dangerous provocative act,” which he argued could threaten the Liangmai people and disturb the peace.
In response, Liangmai Naga Council president R. Machundoubou conveyed that the Liangmai community perceived COTU’s statement as a direct threat to the region’s peace and unity. He argued that such rhetoric risked escalating tensions, particularly between the Liangmai Nagas, Kukis, and other communities at a time when reconciliation efforts are essential.
The Liangmai community emphasized that inflammatory statements like these not only endanger harmony but also deepen existing divides, hampering collective progress and inter-community understanding. By urging strict legal action, they seek to mitigate potential conflict and safeguard their cultural heritage and peaceful coexistence.
The appeal follows escalating tensions after COTU’s protest on October 30, which allegedly disrupted the Liangmai celebration of Chaga Ngee in Gamgiphai, Kangpokpi district. According to the Liangmai Naga Council, the protest involved large crowds and militant elements that created significant distress, violated the community’s cultural rights, and threatened longstanding traditions.
The Liangmai Naga Council expressed deep concerns over COTU’s influence in Kangpokpi district, attributing it to an influx of immigrants from Myanmar, which, according to them, has led to demographic changes, deforestation, illegal timber logging, and poppy cultivation—factors they argue have worsened ecological imbalances and increased vulnerability to climate change.
They believe that the presence of these Kuki settlers has marginalized indigenous Liangmai and Naga tribes, who have historically considered Kangpokpi district their ancestral land.
“Since 1974, Liangmai leaders have raised concerns about the lack of developmental benefits in Liangmai-dominated areas within Kangpokpi, where Kuki MLAs have held significant control. This perceived lack of representation and developmental support has fostered long-standing grievances within the Liangmai community.
The student body further emphasized that COTU’s disruptions of peaceful cultural practices, including the unwarranted intimidation of VIP visitors and interference in public celebrations, have caused psychological trauma to community members,” the Naga body said.
In their appeal, the Liangmai Naga Council requested that the government take “immediate and decisive action” by declaring COTU an unlawful organization and by holding accountable those who instigate violence, disrupt public order, and infringe upon the rights of indigenous communities.
The community called for a legal framework to protect their right to cultural and religious expression, seeking to address longstanding issues of marginalization and ensure that their voices are not suppressed in their ancestral land.
