Organisations permanent and temporary are dime a dozen in Manipur. Each has its moment or an extended phase of relevance but very few have been in the news as much as the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) since Manipur started spiralling into chaos after clashes between the Kuki and Meitei people broke out on May 3.
On November 17, the officer in charge of Churachandpur police station lodged an FIR against ITLF general secretary Muan Tombing for “attempting to wage war” against the government of India. This was in reference to his announcement on November 15 that a “separate administration” would soon be formed comprising districts such as Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal, dominated by the Kuki-Zomi people. The FIR was lodged a day after the MLAs of the ruling BJP condemned his statement and sought legal action against him and the ITLF.
The ITLF was formed on June 9, 2022, at the office of the Kuki Inpi Churachandpur (KIC) in Tuibong village by leaders of recognised tribes within the Churachandpur district. Apart from the Kuki Inpi, an apex body of the Kuki people, the constituents of the ITLF are the Paite Tribe Council (PTC), Simte Tribe Council, Vaiphei People’s Council and Mizo People’s Convention. Pagin Haokip, the executive member of the KIC, is the chairman of the ITLF while Mr. Tombing is also the secretary of the PTC. Another key founder-member of the ITLF is its spokesperson Ginza Vualzong.
