Kukis, Paites sign peace pact

Representatives of Kuki and Paite communities on Monday signed an accord that is expected to end the ethnic conflict between the groups in Churachandpur district of Manipur, an official release said in Aizawl.

T Samuel Haukip, president of the Kuki National Front and J K Reuben, a representative of various Paite organisations, signed the peace accord in the presence of Mizoram Agriculture Minister C Chawngkunga in Churachandpur.

The accord is the result of efforts by Manipur Chief Minister Rishang Keising and his Mizoram counterpart Lalthanhawla to stop the violence that has claimed many lives. As part of these efforts, Lalthanhawla sent a goodwill mission, headed by Chawngkunga, to the conflict-ridden areas. The resulting discussions culminated in the signing of the peace accord.

The two groups also have agreed to constitute a team of peace observers, to be appointed by the mission from Mizoram, to monitor the situation and to ensure that there is no breach of peace.

But the chief minister later said that 17 Paite people, including three women, were killed and 80 houses set afire by Paite and Kuki militants at Shinghat on Monday night within hours of the peace accord being signed between the two ethnic groups.

The situation was tense in and around Churachandpur. All telephone lines to and from the district town were disrupted.

Minister of Tourism and Minor Irrigation Hang Khalien expressed concern over the killing of Paite by Kukis since last month.

The state assembly was informed that more than 55 Paite tribals have been killed and about 250 houses burnt down in ethnic clashes in Churachandpur district since June 24.

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