Edited by Kimbawinu Vaiphei, Kukiland Express DeskSongpi: May 12, 2026The United Kuki National Army (UKNA) has strongly opposed the proposed visit of Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to Churachandpur district on May 15, stating that the move would be viewed as “highly provocative and unacceptable” by the Kuki people. In a statement issued on May 11, the group called on village chiefs, community leaders, and Civil Society Organisations in Kuki areas to remain alert and coordinated ahead of the planned programme. It said no individual or group should cooperate in facilitating the Chief Minister’s entry into what it described as “frontline areas.”
The UKNA further cautioned that if the Chief Minister proceeds with the visit, responsibility for any untoward incidents or confrontation during the programme would lie with those arranging or supporting it. The statement reiterated the organisation’s demand for a Separate Administration or a Union Territory with Legislature for the Kuki people. It also warned against any attempt by Meitei leaders or organisations to enter Kuki-dominated areas before a political solution is reached.
In its directive, the UKNA urged government employees and state service personnel to prioritise what it termed their “national duty” over official duties connected to the Chief Minister’s proposed visit. The group’s statement comes amid heightened sensitivity in the district following more than a year of ethnic tensions in Manipur.
Separately, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and ZRO held a joint meeting on May 11 and reportedly resolved unanimously not to participate in or support any programme related to the Chief Minister’s proposed visit to Churachandpur on May 15. The resolution adds to the growing opposition from Kuki groups ahead of the scheduled date.
The developments unfold against the backdrop of continuing ethnic tensions and political uncertainty in Manipur since violence between Meitei and Kuki communities broke out in May 2023. Churachandpur, a Kuki-majority district, has been one of the key centres affected by the conflict, with issues of administration, security, and political settlement remaining unresolved.
