Hope amid Hopelessness: Manipur's Political Development on current ethnic Crisis
Beerjurekha Samom
09 June, 2023 05:44 pm IST
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Hope amid Hopelessness: Manipur's Political Development on current ethnic Crisis
Massive violence has gripped the northeast Indian state of Manipur, as turmoil erupted between ethnic groups from May 3rd. Several villages were torched down, buildings in the valley region set ablaze, and charred vehicles strewn across roads, leaving at least 96 dead and thousands more homeless and taking refuge at relief camps.
In a recent development, Amit Shah has once again assured that there would be no compromise on Manipur’s territorial integrity.
The assurance was given to 10 Naga MLAs when the Manipur legislators called on the Union Minister at his residence in Delhi.
Of the ten legislators, one independent, two from Conrad Sangma-led NPP, two from BJP, and five from Naga People’s Front including Transport minister in Biren Singh’s government Kashim Vashum, Leishiyo Keishing, Awangbow Newmai, Ram Muivah, and Losii Dikho met Shah on Wednesday evening.
During their short meeting with the Union Minister, the 10 MLAs highlighted the existing convulsive atmosphere in the state.
"They also reportedly informed the Minister that Churachandpur is the only Kuki-dominated area in Manipur and Kukis cannot in any circumstances encroach on their territory when asked for a separate administration".
Following this, the Union Minister told them that there will be no compromise on the state’s territorial integrity.
Days after meeting the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, the 10 Naga MLAs of Manipur held a press conference at Niathu Resort, Chumukedima on Friday.
The Naga MLAs said that they have made no demand but said that in the event of any arrangement being made for anybody, Naga areas should not be touched as it will create more problems.
Addressing the press conference, Minister of Water Resources, Relief, Disaster Management, Manipur, Awangbow Newmai said the delegation had conveyed to the Union Home Minister that in the event of any arrangement for separate administration is to be made, Naga areas should not be touch because that has been the contention for many years and there has been a lot of issues and problems in the past.
The delegation apprised the Home Minister that the Naga people should be consulted properly before any arrangement is made as the Nagas have an ongoing peace process with the Govt of India. In the event of an arrangement for the Nagas, it has to be as per the peace process going on between the Govt of India and the Nagas as we all are hoping for a permanent solution, stated Newmai.
He said the Union Home Minister had conveyed to the delegation that in the event of any plan for the arrangement for separate administration or whatsoever plan, all major communities in Manipur Kukis, Meiteis, and the Nagas will be properly consulted and brought into consensus if any plan is to be made. Nobody will be left out but first peace has to prevail, Newmai added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's in his visit to Manipur on May 29th aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in the state. During his visit, Shah held meetings with the Manipur cabinet, Kuki tribal leaders, security forces, and administration officials.
The meeting led by Amit Shah emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining law and order, providing relief measures, and addressing the ongoing ethnic clashes.
On Thursday, MPCC also demanded assurance by GOI not to disturb not just territorial integrity but also administrative and socio-economic integrity in Manipur.
They also suggested Immediate control and confinement of Kuki militants under SoO, Relief, Rehabilitation of all displaced violence survivors, action against Narco-terrorist, including poppy planters and drug leagues like the Itocha Drug cartel, and Identification and deportation of illegal migrants within a time frame
Looking back to how the violence erupted:
In many discussions, we see how it has been portrayed as the multi-layered issues behind the conflict are the local dynamics among the Kuki tribes and the Meiteis, the origin of tensions between them, narco-politics, and India’s strategic cross-border interests.
The reason for the events in Manipur was set in motion after the High Court directed the state government in April to consider the same affirmative action for the majority Meiteis as given to the minority tribe- the demand for Schedule Tribe by STDC.
"A peace rally organized by the hill tribes on May 3 served as the turning point, as violence broke out soon after with both sides blaming each other for the turmoil that left almost 100 people dead, 400 injured, and thousands homeless".
What has transpired in the last four weeks in Manipur ought to be structured into a portrayal, one devoid of shortsighted or propagandist bias, rumors, or hearsay – which have fuelled irreversible ethnic friction.
The first question one needs to ask is, how did all the killings, arson, mayhem, and destruction happen so fast?
"Every informed citizen knows there have always been ethnic fault lines in India’s northeast region. The manifestation of these fault lines includes the recent violent clashes between the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi hill tribes and the Meitei community in Manipur."
As of now, over 35,000 people belonging to both ethnic groups have been shifted to relief centers and homes in both the valley and hill districts of Manipur. Many survivors of the violence were evacuated by security forces under tremendous difficulty.
Reports coming in from Mizoram say that 6,500 people have arrived in the state from Manipur.
Though the rallies were held in all hill districts of Manipur, trouble started in the Torbung area near Churachandpur. The armed mob burnt down Meitei homes, who were in the minority in that area, during the May 3 tribal solidarity march. This activated retaliatory attacks in the valley districts of Manipur where the Meitei community is dominant.
The systematic arson and destruction in the aftermath of the tribal solidarity march began only in Kuki-dominated areas when the same cause of opposing the Meiteis’ demand was also endorsed by the Naga community in their respective tribal jurisdictions.
Other factors:
According to Manipur government sources, "Between 2017 and 2018, over 18,664 acres of poppy-cultivated land have been destroyed by state forces. This has mostly been confined to the hill districts. Between 2013 and 2016, only 1,889 acres of poppy-cultivated land were destroyed."
Keeping such state actions in mind, it can be said that the destruction of poppy cultivation – which is otherwise a means of earning revenue for a wide section of the Kuki-Zo-Chin tribe – is also a reason for the simmering anger against the Biren Singh government.
Earlier in 2018, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had reportedly said that his government will have no option but to resign if the territorial integrity of the state is not safeguarded under the Naga Peace Accord.
CM N. Biren Singh's move comes amid reports that the Naga Peace Accord will be signed in the next few weeks in July 2018.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said that the reaction of the people of Manipur will be "uncontrollable" if the Naga peace talks leave out the interests of Manipur. "The people of Manipur cannot be left out of the discussion," said Singh.
Coming back to the present scenario:
On Thursday, Centre approved a Rs 101.75 crore relief package for the displaced people in violence-hit Manipur following a directive of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, security advisor to the state government Kuldiep Singh said.
The security advisor also said the situation in Manipur remained peaceful and under control and there has been no incident of violence in the state in the last 48 hours.
In the last 24 hours, 27 arms, 245 ammunition, and 41 bombs were recovered from the Porompat police station jurisdiction of Manipur’s Imphal East district while one weapon and two bombs were seized in the state’s Bishnupur district. A total of 896 arms, 11,763 ammunition, and 200 bombs of different kinds have been recovered so far, the security advisor said.
NB: The author is the editor of HY News
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