The World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC)-GHQ has issued a letter to Ng Lorho, president of the United Naga Council (UNC), and the 10 Naga MLAs from Manipur, urging them to acknowledge the inherent ties between ‘Old Kukis and New Kukis.’ This appeal highlights a shared lineage, language, culture, and traditions, historically disrupted by colonial ‘Divide & Rule’ strategies that fragmented the Kuki community into Chin-Kuki-Mizo factions.
The letter, co-signed by WKZIC-GHQ president TS Haokip and vice-president (C&C) L Tunta Ngaihte, referenced a June 30 local daily headline stating, ‘Settlement of Kuki issue should not touch Naga areas: Naga MLAs,’ and called for mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation.
The correspondence asserted that Kukis are one of the indigenous Naga tribes of Nagaland, having participated in the Naga Movement, notably represented by Lengjang Kuki, a signatory of the ‘First Political Memorandum’ for ‘Naga Self-determination’ submitted to the British Statutory Commission on January 10, 1929.
The letter expressed regret over the portrayal of Kukis as immigrants or refugees, a narrative reportedly initiated by certain Manipuri Naga factions in the early 1990s. This narrative, the letter claimed, matured over three decades, leading to a conflict in which Meiteis allegedly launched an attack on the Kukis on May 3. It further alleged that these factions converted various minority Kuki-Chin groups, classified as Old Kukis by colonial authorities, into Manipuri Naga polity through violent means since the late 1950s.
Additionally, the letter emphasized that the minorities classified as Old Kukis—such as the Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Chothe (Chawte), Inpui, Kharam, Koireng (Koren), Kom, Lamkang, Maring, Monshang, Muyon, Purum, and Tarao tribes of Manipur—are of Kuki-Chin descent. These groups form interconnected clans and sub-clans, sharing a common language, related dialects, cultures, and traditions, similar to the Mizo tribes of Mizoram, Chin tribes of the Chin Hills, and Tripura Kuki tribes.
The letter provided details on the so-called ‘Bone of Contention’ between Chin-Kukis and Manipuri Nagas in the Tengnoupal and Chandel districts: ‘The former Tengnoupal district, now divided into Tengnoupal and Chandel districts for administrative purposes, is home to both ‘Old Kukis and New Kukis’ in Outer Manipur, with 134 Old Kuki villages and 112 New Kuki villages in Chandel district and 75 Old Kuki villages and 93 New Kuki villages in Tengnoupal district,’ as noted in a November 9 local daily.
The letter enumerated the old Kuki tribes of Chin-Kuki descent, including the Aimol, Anal, Lamkang, Maring, Monshang, Muyon, Purum tribes, and the new Kuki tribes such as the Gangte, Khongsai, Lushai, Mate, Paite, Thadou, Vaiphei, and Zou tribes.
These old Kuki tribes have Revolutionary Organisations like the United Komrem Revolutionary Army (UKRA) for Aimol, Kom, Chiru, and Chothe tribes, the United Minority Liberation Army (UMLA) for Monshang, Muyon, and Purum tribes, and the Pakan Re-Unification Army (PRA) for Anal and Lamkang tribes. These groups operate under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), which signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India in 2008, and continue to await a political resolution for the Kuki people.
The letter concluded with an appeal for understanding and consideration, urging the Naga communities in Nagaland and Manipur to foster mutual respect, cooperation, and peaceful coexistence.
