The Zomi Council has strongly criticized the Federation of Haomee (FoH) over the erection of an “Indigenous Pillar” at Sawombung Khunjao, Imphal, alleging that the monument promotes a distorted and exclusionary version of Manipur’s indigenous history.
In a statement issued by Mary Jones Vung, Secretary of Information and Publicity, the council objected that the monument lists only 25 of the 33 recognized tribes in Manipur as indigenous, excluding several communities, including those belonging to the Zomi conglomerate of eight recognized tribes.
The body asserted that such selective representation was misleading, divisive, and harmful to the trust and unity among the state’s indigenous groups.
It recalled the long-standing presence and contribution of the Zomis to Manipur’s governance and development, citing historical figures such as T.C. Tiankham, the first non-Naga Cabinet Minister and Speaker of the Manipur Territorial Council in 1948.
Terming the FoH’s monument a “distortion of history,” the council demanded its immediate and permanent removal, a public apology, and a white paper clarifying the organization’s stance. It also urged the state government to initiate legal action against the FoH leadership to prevent communal tensions.
The statement further warned that persistent “chauvinistic attempts” to misrepresent indigenous identity and history in the Imphal valley would be brought to the notice of the Central Government.
