That, in spite of their being the inheritors and practitioners of unique culture and ways of relating to other Peoples and to the environment, indigenous peoples lost all their rights over their lands, forests and other natural resources. This was through conquer and conquest by empires, kingdoms, and through colonization of their lands and territories by colonial or neo-colonial powers, especially by the British and subsequent neo-colonialists. However, they (indigenous peoples) have retained their social, cultural economic and other Political characteristics that are different from those of dominant societies in which they live.So,they, around the world, have sought recognition of their identities, their ways of life and their rights to traditional lands and resources; yet throughout history, their rights have been violated being minority groups in the societies they live.Furhter, they are arguably among the most advantaged and vulnerable groups in all aspects in the world today. Of an estimated 300 million indigenous peoples in the world, indigenous Zo people, belonging to Tibeto-Burman groups, and spreading over three independent countries like India, Burma and Bangladesh in South-East Asia, are the most victimized indigenous people of human rights violations due to imperialism and its impacts.
That, the ancestral land indigenously called Zogam was dismembered into several pieces through which the international boundaries of India, Burma and Bangladesh, and the state boundaries of Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Assam crisscross through. As a result, the Zo people were scattered and appended to those independent nations without the people being physically transported and emotionally integrated to, without their knowledge and consent. In each of the countries they belong, they are inevitably minorities, divided into different regions, on the basis of imposed names like Kuki, Chin and Lushai, convenient to be governed, subjugated and made aliens in their own land.
That, somewhat enlightened of them are not allowed self-determination and their own political destiny. They are deprived of their rights and privileges by being swamped by dominant societies. They are deliberately deprived of the economic and cultural development in each of the power they were appended to, and so their lands remains the ‘most backward’ ‘the poorest and the most secluded region in their respective countries.Laws, acts and discriminating Rules were passed to exploit the people, the land and the natural resources, which the Creator had gifted and preserved for them. And even in the dawn of the 21st century, they are not only suppressed and isolated but deceived and weakened by passing divisive Acts and Rules, especially in the state of Manipur. Thus, a state that gravely violates its obligations towards a distinct people or community with its boundaries loses the legitimacy to rule over that people.
That, in spite of the provision of Indian Constitution for specific measures for the protection and promotion of the social, economic and cultural interests of the Scheduled Tribes in the forms of reservation of seats in legislature and educational institutions, services and posts; tribal development programs; National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, and provisions for Self-Rule/Autonomy etc, the social,economic,cultural and political rights of Indigenous Zo people have been violated and exploited by the dominant societies especially the Manipur Zo people.
That, Geographical areas designated as Fifth and Sixth Schedule areas by independent India are almost identical to those already delineated by the British as Partially Excluded Area and Excluded Area respectively. Article 244(i) provides for a Fifth Schedule that can be applied to any state other than those in North-East India. This Schedule has been termed a “Constitution within the Constitution”. Under this Schedule, the Governors of concerned states have been given extensive powers, and may prevent or amend any law enacted in the parliament or the state Assembly that could harm the trials’ interests. The Sixth Scheduled is supposed to be formed by the ethos of self-management.Presently,the Schedule operates in the tribal dominated areas in the North-East India:Karbi-Anglong and North Cachar districts in Assam;Khasi Hills,Jantia Hills and Garo Hills in Meghalaya;Chakma,Lai and Mara districts in Mizoram; and Tripura tribal areas in Tripura state. Each Tribal areas covered by the Sixth Schedule has an Autonomous District Council, which has legislative, executive and judicial powers. However, for the indigenous peoples of the outer Manipur (i.e., the Nagas and the Zomi), Autonomous District Councils without Financial power was created by the Union of parliament in the form of Government of Territories Act, 1963.
That, the deeply spiritual and special relationship between indigenous peoples and their lands is fundamental to their existence as such and to all their belief, customs, traditions and culture. These concerns are taken account in Article 25 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples-“Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual and material relationship with the lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources which have traditionally owned or otherwise occupied or used, and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard”.
That, the world Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen in 1995, expressed the view that recognizes and supports indigenous peoples in their pursuit of economic and social development, with full respect for their identity, tradition, forms of social organization and cultural values. Further, it is clear that the principle and fundamental right of self-determination for the Zomi in the state of Manipur, India is firmly established in the constitution of India and international law including human rights law. In other words, the right to self-determination also means its right to regain, enjoy and enrich its cultural heritage, and the right of all its members to education and culture. Further, any state that gravely violates the socio-economic and cultural rights of a people and its obligations towards a distinct people or community within its boundaries loses the legitimacy to rule over that people. Thus, the Foundation through this press statement appeals to the indigenous zo people themselves to preserve and protect their social, economic and cultural identities and institutions, and to the concerned authority (ies) to allow recognition of its rights to regain, enjoy and enrich its cultural heritage through implementation of self-determination in the form of Self-Rule/Self-Government within the nation states of their existence as a people.
Issued by Information and Publicity Department Zomi Human Rights Foundation
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[Editor note: Zo is also refer as Chin or Kuki in other regions]