Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) held an emergency cross-ethnicity consultation on Monday at Dawrpui Multipurpose Hall, Aizawl, Mizoram. The meeting was attended by 54 representatives from various political parties, NGOs, and churches.

ZORO is a Chin-Kuki- Mizo-Zomi group organisation which seeks re-unification of all Zo people and bringing them under one administrative unit strongly condemns the suffering of the minority and weaker Tribal community Zo or Mizo descendants (Zofate) of Manipur.

During the meeting, the attendees expressed their deep concern over the suffering of the Tribals in Manipur's ethnic conflict. They stressed the urgent need for relief efforts to be provided to the affected Kuki-Zomi communities and emphasised the pressing need for unity among the Zo people in different parts of the world.

“The violence inflicted on these vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, is reprehensible, and we demand that such acts be stopped immediately and not be repeated,” a statement by the organisation said. It added that all the Zo brothers and sisters in the world stand for the “Zofate” of Manipur.

The organisation said “we observe that the ethnic conflict in Manipur is also an attack on the Christian faith and Christian community by the majority community. We categorically state that such incidents in a secular country like India are unacceptable and must not be repeated.

“The Manipur Government must fully compensate the tribal victims of the Meitei-Tribal ethnic conflict for their losses, including loss of life, injuries, and destruction of churches and ZORO shall take necessary steps to expose and rectify to the national and international communities, the Manipur Government's atrocities and unlawful activities against Tribal minorities. The matter shall be referred to the United Nations Organisation (UNO) for appropriate action.”

The ZORO General Secretary L. Ramdinliana Renthlei said that the hills of Manipur belong to the indigenous tribals who have been living on their ancestral lands for centuries. “We vehemently denounce the Manipur Government's attempt to appropriate their history and land through devious and misleading means.

“We cannot accept the fact that a peaceful Tribal Solidarity rally organised to protect their rights was violently attacked. It is clear that the Manipur Government is actively trying to take away the rights and ancestral land of the Tribals. The Tribals of Manipur have lost their confidence in the Manipur Government and are concerned about their safety under its administration.

“Therefore, ZORO demands that the Indian Government establish a separate administration for the Tribals to protect their rightful interests and ensure their survival.”

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday also expressed concerns over the current situation in Manipur and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is not providing a clear picture of the death toll in the north-eastern state where “shoot-at-sight” orders are in force.

Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the BJP government in the Centre for not sending a single representative to Manipur to review the situation.

At least 60 people including women have been killed and 231 people have been injured and 1,700 houses have been torched since May 3, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh told the media. “So far 35,655 persons, hit by the violence, including 1,593 students, have been moved to safer locations,” Singh said.

Last Saturday, as the initial reports of the unrest in Manipur emerged, its neighbour Mizoram state was the first to express “deep concern” on the matter among the eight Northeast states. The Zo communities have found shelter in Mizoram, after Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga extended a warm welcome to them on his Instagram handle page.

He posted an image with a message in Mizo that reads "Welcome to Mizoram, the homestead of the Zo people," which emphasizes the ethnic kinship between the tribals of Manipur and the Mizos of Mizoram, collectively known as the Zo people. The Chief Minister's remarks acknowledge Mizoram's unique position within the Zo culture sphere, where it is often regarded as the epicenter of Zo culture and identity.

As of May 10, Mizoram government released as many as 640 quintals of rice for displaced Zo communities from Manipur who are seeking shelter in Mizoram state.

Meanwhile, Evangelical Baptist Convention Church-EBCC, Aizawl, on May 8, despatched 350 bags of rice for violence-hit Churachandpur's Lamka town. As many as 4,409 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Zo communities from Manipur are seeking shelter in six (6) Mizoram districts, officials said.

The NGO Coordination Committee (NGOCC), a conglomerate of major voluntary organisations in Mizoram left for New Delhi on Thursday to take up the plight of Manipur's Zo communities with the Centre asking for urgent intervention.

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