By Rabindra Nath Sinha
KOLKATA: Anger against and blaming it all on the Union home ministry are conspicuous in the resolution adopted by Meitei organisations on Saturday May 3 to mark the second anniversary of the widespread Manipur ethnic violence that broke out on May 3, 2023on the issue of ST status for the Meiteis who inhabit the Valley in the small state and account for 53 per cent of its population (as per the last census held in 2011).
The second anniversary of the ethnic flare-up was also observed “with matching seriousness” at several places in Manipur and beyond by outfits of the Kuki-Zos — the other side to the confrontation — who inhabit the Hills in the state and whose premise is that they cannot live with the Meiteis any more and continue to be discriminated. Among the places in the ‘beyond’ category where mainly the Kuki-Zos organised congregations under the theme of ‘Separation Day’ include, among others, New Delhi (held on May 1), Guwahati and Bengaluru. The declarations made by them, when judged relatively, appear to be rather soberly worded.
The convention of the Meiteis, held under the banner of the Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (Cocomi) and ‘the People of Manipur’ at Khuman Lampak at Imphal declared that New Delhi “has either wlfully neglected or strategically prolonged the crisis in Manipur to serve its own national and geopolitical interests, thereby gravely undermining the rights, safety and dignity of the native and indigenous people of Manipur”. The convention also rejected Union home minister Amit Shah’s recent statement wherein he characterised the crisis as a mere conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities and dismisses the involvement of terrorists and religious extremists. “The statement is misleading, reductionist and attempts to downplay the seriousness and complexity of the conflict”. The convention was moderated by ex-IAS officer R K Nimai who and Cocomi convener Khuraijam Athouba have signed the adopted resolution made public. The convention also declared that any attempt, internal or external, made to divide and disintegrate Manipur will be firmly and collectively opposed.
The Union government has been called upon to act within a clearly specified timeframe to uphold the rights and dignity of the people and failure to do so will result in complete alienation of Manipur’s people. “In such a scenario, the people shall be compelled to chart their own course of collective measures which could affect the mutual relationship between the people of Manipur and the Government of India.” New Delhi cannot bypass, outsource or dilute its responsibility. Any form of engagement with any authority other than the Centre has been ruled out.
Finally, the organisers have urged the Centre to immediately cease all forms of indirect support to foreign-origin armed groups, such as, the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front operating in the state. They have been given safe havens, financial backing and logistical support under the pretext of the Suspension of Operation since 2008. The continued patronage amounts to a proxy war against the indigenous people.
The priority action points for the Union government listed in the resolution are : Dignified resettlement with relief packages for all internally displaced persons (IDPs), payment of fair compensation to IDPs to engage in livelihood activity, ensuring return to studies for all displaced children, tracing of missing persons (MPs) and payment of compensation to families of MPs, restoration of access to farmlands for the upcoming agricultural season and fixing accountability for failure in this regard in the past two years and arrangement for protection of all sites sacred to the 20 lakh Meitei adherents on the lines made for pilgrims visiting Amarnath and Kedarnath.
Given the strident tone of the resolution and call for action within specified timeframe, is it fair to see in it the hand of former chief minister N Biren Singh, who demitted office under immense political pressure on February 9? Political watchers, in response to this poser from IPA, said “it may be fair to suspect but difficult to vouchsafe immediately” As Amit Shah had gradually tightened his control over law and order in the Hill areas and the security apparatus was practically not reporting to Biren Singh, it is common knowledge that relations between them had come under strain..
Kuki Inpi Manipur (Kim), an apex outfit of Kuki-Zos, observed the second anniversary of the prolonged ethnic strike at 10 locations, according to the statement issued in the name of the outfit’s information secretary Janghaolun Haokip. It records that the conflict has had devastating consequences for their community which has suffered loss of 228 lives, destruction of over 200 villages and displacement of over 41,000 individuals. “Despite this immense human cost and profound challenges endured by our people, a political solution that ensures lasting peace remain elusive”.
The resolution adopted on the occasion which Kim themed as Separation Day calls upon the Union government to act decisively to resolve the conflict by granting a separate administration for the Kuki-Zos. It emphasises that the community remains steadfast in its demand for Union Territory status under Article 239-A of the Constitution. The community’s struggle for right to self-governance within the Constitutional framework of India will continue until the goal of a political solution is realised.
In what may be termed as breath of fresh air, the conflict’s second anniversary occasion saw an appeal issued by Thadou Inpi Manipur (Tim) to “turn May 3 into Peace Day” by refraining from doing anything that may characterise it as ‘ethnic provocation day’. In statement dated May 1, Tim’s joint general secretary (JGS) Manggou Thadou has claimed that last year the outfit had appealed to observe the day as ‘peace day’, “drawing inspiration from Japan’s commemoration of the Hiroshima bombing” with a call for international peace and denouncing war and violence. The statement of JGS clarifies that “Thadou is a distinct ethnic group of people, is not Kuki or underneath Kuki or part of Kuki, but a separate, independent entity from Kuki”. The community’s principal outfits, apart from Tim, are Thadou Students’ Association and Thadou Community International. (IPA Service)
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