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{{Short description|Ethnic conflict in Manipur, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{morefootnotes|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = Kuki–Zomi Conflict
| subtitle = Kuki–Zomi Conflict
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| date = {{start date|1997|07|24}} – {{end date|1998|09|29}}
| place = [[Churachandpur district]], [[Manipur]], [[India]]
| coordinates =
| causes = Tribal divisions
| goals =
| methods = {{hlist|Assaults|[[arson]]|[[destruction of property]]|[[forced displacement]]|[[ambush]]es|attacks on means of transport}}
| status =
| result =
| side1 = [[Thadou-Kuki people]]<br/>* [[Kuki National Front]]
| side2 = [[Paite people]]<br/>* [[Zomi Revolutionary Army]]
| side3 = [[Government of India]]<br/>* [[Indian Army]]
| leadfigures1 =
| leadfigures2 =
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| howmany1 =
| howmany2 =
| howmany3 =
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
| fatalities = 352
| injuries = 136
| arrests =
| damage =
| buildings = 4,670 houses
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| effect =
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}}

The '''Kuki–Paite Conflict''',{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007}} also called '''Kuki–Zomi Conflict''',{{sfnp|Ngaihte, Kuki-Zomi Conflict|2010}} was an ethnic conflict during 1997–1998 between tribal communities in [[Churachandpur district]] in [[Manipur]], [[India]]. The cause of the conflict may be regarded as the desire for leadership within the tribes, pitting one group that subscribed to the [[Kuki people|Kuki]] label against another group that subscribed to the [[Zo people|Zomi]] label, the latter being led by the [[Paite people|Paites]]. The conflict started in June 1997 and lasted for over year, during which 352 people died, thousands of homes were destroyed and over 13,000 people were displaced.<ref name=Choudhury/> The [[Government of India]] sent in the [[Indian Army]] to attempt to stop the violence, but peace was restored in September–October 1998 only with the initiative of the Church.<ref>{{citation |title=Women and Conflict in India |first=Sanghamitra |last=Choudhury |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=9781317553625 |pages=38–39 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=72yFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA39 |quote=The Indian Army was moved to Churachandrapur to restore peace, but the peace was really restored only at the initiative of the Church in October 1998.}}
</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Rodger |first=Alison J |author2=Mike Toole |author3=Baby Lalnuntluangi |author4=V. Muana |author5=Peter Deutschmann |year=2002 |title=DOTS-based tuberculosis treatment and control during civil conflict and an HIV epidemic, Churachandpur District, India |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=80 |issue=6 |url=https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2567536/pdf/12132001.pdf |quote=Several hundred Indian Army soldiers were moved into Churachandpur early in 1998 with the purpose of restoring order. This was not successful, however, and outbreaks of violence continued until the church brokered a ceasefire in October 1998.}}</ref>{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|p=197}}

== Background ==
In 1948, 21 tribes of Manipur that shared the "Kuki" label per the British nomenclature formed a joint organisation called Kuki Company based at Kuki Inn in Imphal. After the formation, however, frictions began to develop due to the predominance of the [[Thadou language]] in the grouping. As a result, some 14 tribes left the group and formed a separate Khul Union.{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|pp=189–190}}
After the rise of the United Naga Council and [[NSCN-IM]] in the 1980s, some of the tribes that had been called 'Old Kuki' in the British nomenclature quit the Kuki umbrella and joined the Naga grouping.{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|loc=p. 190: "Originally, the Moyon, the Monsang, the Lamkang, the Maring, the Anal, the Purum, the Kom, the Chothe, the Koirao, the Koireng, belonged to the old Kuki tribes. But they have changed their affiliation and are now included in the Naga sub-nation."}}{{sfnp|Kipgen, Ethnic Conflict in India|2011|loc=p. 1050: "In the process of constructing the Naga political identity, some of the old Kuki tribes have been assimilated into the Naga fold. These tribes include Anal, Moyon, Monsang, Maring, and more tribes may be in the process of assimilation." }}

Seven 'New Kuki' tribes other than Thadou,{{efn|Thadous make up the largest of the 'New Kuki' tribes, forming 9.16% of Manipur's population by the 2011 census. The Paites are the second largest tribe with 1.92% of the population.}} stood on their own for some time, but eventually adopted the [[Zo people|Zomi]] label. These seven tribes, including [[Hmar people|Hmar]], [[Zou people|Zou]], [[Vaiphei people|Vaiphei]], [[Gangte people|Gangte]], [[Simte people|Simte]], [[Paite people|Paite]] and a collection of smaller tribes that simply called themselves "Zomi", formed the [[Zomi Re-unification Organisation]] (ZRO) in 1995.{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|p=191}}{{efn|The name resembles an earlier organisation "Zo-Reunification Organisation" (ZORO) formed in 1988,{{sfnp|Haokip, Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar/Burma|2018|p=192}} but has quite different motivations.}} For political security for the unified tribes, an armed wing called [[Zomi Revolutionary Army]] (ZRA) was also formed by the seven tribes, which caused unease among the Kuki group.{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|p=191}} The Kuki group, which had its own armed group [[Kuki National Front]] (KNF) and used social taxes to fund it, started to levy more taxes and also demanding them from the tribes belonging to the 'Zomi' group. Thus the tribes calling themselves "Kuki" and those calling themselves "Zomi" came to loggerheads.{{sfnp|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007|pp=191–192}}

== Start of hostilities ==
On 24 June 1997, KNF militants lined up 20 villagers in [[Saikul]] and shot them, killing nine and wounding four.<ref name="Restoration">
{{cite web |last=Hangmi |first=Peter Zamhen |title=The Paite Kuki Clashes and restoration of Normalcy |publisher=khawvaiphei.com |date=6 October 2010 |url=http://www.khawvaiphei.com/articles/general-articles/1514-the-paite-kuki-clashes-and-restoration-of-normalcy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202123638/http://www.khawvaiphei.com/articles/general-articles/1514-the-paite-kuki-clashes-and-restoration-of-normalcy.html |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

These killings started a series of communal violence that also drew in smaller ethnic groups. Several hundred Indian soldiers were moved into Churachandpur to restore order. A peace agreement was negotiated after a few days by dignitaries from Mizoram Peace Mission, namely, Pu C. Chawngkunga, Pu H. Zathuam and Pu F. Lawmkima. It was signed by the KNF(P) and the ZRO, at Mata Dam in [[Churachandpur]] on 8 July 1997.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

Two days later, KNF(P) militants invaded Mata village, breaking the agreement.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

The warring parties were brought together again on 18 July 1997 to reaffirm the agreement. However, the KNF (P) then attacked Leijangphai, Tallian and Savaipaih, burning thirteen houses.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

== Final peace ==
On 29 September 1998, to make amends for the [[Saikul]] massacre and to end the conflict, the [[Kuki Inpi Manipur]] invited the Zomi Council to a feast.

The next day, the Zomi Council reciprocated by inviting the Kukis to a feast. Hence, the conflict ended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kuki-Zomi Final Peace Accord: 01 Oct 1998 |url=https://www.khalvontawi.in/2015/04/kuki-zomi-final-peace-accord-01-oct-1998.html |access-date=2025-08-27}}</ref>

== Conflict toll ==
Over 50 villages were destroyed and some 13 000 people were displaced.{{cn|date=December 2020}} According to official records kept by the [[Government of Manipur]], the communal violence killed 352 persons, injured 136 and destroyed 4,670 houses.<ref name=Choudhury>
{{citation |title=Women and Conflict in India |first=Sanghamitra |last=Choudhury |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=9781317553625 |pages=38–39 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=72yFCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA38}}
</ref><ref name="Rodger">
{{cite journal |last=Rodger |first=Alison J |author2=Mike Toole |author3=Baby Lalnuntluangi |author4=V. Muana |author5=Peter Deutschmann |year=2002 |title=DOTS-based tuberculosis treatment and control during civil conflict and an HIV epidemic, Churachandpur District, India |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=80 |issue=6}}
</ref> The majority moved to areas surrounding the district capital of Churachandpur and [[Mizoram]], where they were housed in makeshift refugee centres in schools, hospitals and various other buildings.{{cn|date=August 2023}}

== Peace agreement ==
The terms of the peace agreement were as follows:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kuki-Zomi Final Peace Accord: 01 Oct 1998 |url=https://www.khalvontawi.in/2015/04/kuki-zomi-final-peace-accord-01-oct-1998.html |access-date=2025-08-27}}</ref>
#That the nomenclatures Kuki and Zomi shall be mutually respected by all Zomis and Kukis. Every individual or group of persons shall be at liberty to call himself or themselves by any name, and the nomenclature KUKI and ZOMI shall not in any way be imposed upon any person or group against his/their will at any point of time.
#That, any person who has occupied or has physical possession of any land/private building/houses and quarters wrongfully and illegally during the period of clashes shall return and restore to the rightful owners, such lands and buildings.
#That, no Kuki or Zomi militant shall indulge themselves in any forcible collection of funds, taxes etc., against their counterpart nomenclature be it from the Government Officials, individuals, contractors, and business establishments.
#That, all points of MoUs between the Kuki Inpi and the Zomi Council shall be operative and binding to all concerned persons and parties including the government.

== See also ==
* [[Kuki-Naga conflict in Manipur]]
* [[2023 Manipur violence]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |first=Rebecca C. |last=Haokip |chapter=The Kuki-Paite Conflict in the Churachandpur District of Manipur |editor=Lazar Jeyaseelan |title=Conflict mapping and peace processes in North East India |publisher=North Eastern Social Research Centre |url=http://www.nesrc.org/Monographs/PeaceBook.pdf |year=2007 |pages=185–207 |ref={{sfnref|Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict|2007}} |archive-date=18 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231218054719/https://www.nesrc.org/Monographs/PeaceBook.pdf |url-status=dead }}
* {{citation |last=Haokip |first=T. S. Letkhosei |title=Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar/Burma: A Comparative Study of the Kuki-Chin and Karen Insurgencies |publisher=Educreation Publishing |year=2018 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGpoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA182 |ref={{sfnref|Haokip, Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar/Burma|2018}}}}
* {{citation |first=Nehginpao |last=Kipgen |title=Ethnic Conflict in India: A Case Study of the Kukis and the Nagas in Manipur |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=October–December 2011 |volume=72 |number=4 |pages=1043–1060 |jstor=41856539 |ref={{sfnref|Kipgen, Ethnic Conflict in India|2011}}}}
* {{citation |first=S. Thianlalmuan |last=Ngaihte |chapter=Kuki-Zomi Conflict |title=Role of Paite Elites in the Construction of Paite and Zomi Identities in Manipur |pages=179–182|publisher=North-Eastern Hill University |location=Shillong |year=2010 |ssrn=2160232 |chapter-url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2160232 |ref={{sfnref|Ngaihte, Kuki-Zomi Conflict|2010}}}}

==External links==
*[http://www.neportal.org/northeastfiles/Manipur/Political/GovernorAddress/1999.asp Manipur Governor's Address to the Assembly on 9-03-1999]
*[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/19970728-manipur-once-again-on-the-brink-as-smaller-tribes-are-drawn-into-the-kuki-naga-conflict-830419-1997-07-27 Blood brothers: Manipur once again on the brink as smaller tribes are drawn into the Kuki-Naga conflict]
*[https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/manipur/terrorist_outfits/ZRA.htm ZRO/ZRA]

[[Category:Ethnic conflicts in Manipur]]
[[Category:Violence in India]]
[[Category:1990s in Manipur]]
[[Category:1997 in India]]
[[Category:1998 in India]]
[[Category:Kuki people]]

Kuki–Paite Conflict - Revision history

Chakravarthy: Created First Data W/ Refs