By Rabindra Nath Sinha
KOLKATA: The current month has seen several incidents of ethnic violence in Manipur, after a few weeks’ respite in between, which gave rise to optimism that termination of President’s rule and restoration of a popular ministry in early February will augur well for the strife-torn small north-eastern state. The participation of the Kukis in the ministry, despite their hardened stance against the valley-based Meiteis for the latter’s domination in administration and considering the former as illegal immigrants from Myanmar, contributed to the optimism among the general public. Also, the induction on February 4 of a moderate and experienced Meitei politician Yumnam Khemchand Singh as chief minister, who is recognised as a strong votary of dialogue between the Meiteis and the Kukis as the only option for ushering in lasting peace, was generally welcomed by civil society organisations in Manipur.
It is true the Kukis have not given up their demand for a separate administrative arrangement in the format of a UT with legislature; but their participation in the ministry then marked a breakthrough of sorts. The ministry will complete three months in office on May 3. The outbreak of violence on Tuesday, April 7 at Tronglaobi in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district, an ambush on Saturday, April 18 in Tangkhul Naga-majority Ukhrul district and a third incident on Friday, April 24 that marked an escalation of the April 18 conflict have created a piquant situation for the chief minister.
Despite strengthening of the security apparatus and imposition of restrictions on internet services, the state administration is finding it difficult to cope with the situation. The bombing attack on April 7 led to the killing of a five-year-old boy and an infant girl allegedly by a Kuki ultra outfit acted as the trigger for a series of protests in the valley. Renewed violence and fresh casualties further queered the pitch for the security establishment [Kuki organizations denied their involvement].
The Tronglaobi bombing attack and the Kuki-Naga clashes of April 18 and 24, in which those succumbed were from both sides, have been handed over by the state administration to the National Investigation Agency. Echoing the chief minister, Manipur’s home minister, Konthoujam Govindas, has gone on record saying that dialogue is the only way for restoring peace in the state. But, their appeals seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a conglomerate of Meitei CSOs held a massive march to the chief minister’s residence on Saturday, April 25 demanding the arrest of those involved in the April 7 bomb attack at Tronglaobi in Birshnupur district.
COCOMI had set a deadline of April 25 for fulfilling their demand. It also sought a judicial probe. The outfit’s convener Y K Dhiraj has made it clear that protests will continue in the absence of concrete assurances from the state government. People in the Naga-majority Ukhrul district have been protesting what they describe as the inaction of the authorities against Kuki armed groups who, they believe, are behind the attacks on Naga civilians. Voice of the Naga Youth has accused Assam Rifles of “assisting, shielding, transporting and providing military uniforms” to the Kuki ultras who attacked Naga villagers near Mullam village in the district on April 24. The Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district has regretted the attempts of a section of tribes of the Naga fraternity to target the Kuki-Zos and described their action as a manifestation of the internal conflict within the armied Naga insurgent groups “in the region”. COTU has appealed to the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book and deter the armed militias.
Significantly, the home department of the Manipur government issued on April 28 an advisory to media houses “on responsible reporting and adherence to norms of journalistic conduct. The advisory makes it clear that the administration has observed that certain news items, press releases and “announcements attributed to banned, unrecognised or unauthorized organisations are being reported and circulated without adequate verification, thereby creating panic misinformation and potentially provoking unrest among the general public.
Therefore, all media houses must exercise utmost due diligence in verifying the authenticity of any information, particularly announcements relating to bandhs , strikes, threats or directives issued by unauthorised or unrecognized organisations. Media houses shall refrain from publishing sensational, provocative or exaggerated headlines / content that may incite fear, unrest or communal disharmony. In sensitive matter affecting law and order, “reporting must be balanced, factual and non-inflammatory. The advisory, signed by commissioner (home) N Ashok Kumar, asks all media organizations to strictly comply with the guidelines and the norms prescribed by the Press Council of India. Any violation shall invite appropriate legal action under relevant laws in force.
According to informed quarters, the Union home ministry seems to have left the matter entirely to the state government. While they appreciate the need for giving some more time to the Khemchand ministry to act according to assessment of the ground realities, the Centre should see that the political process for reconciliation continues with the participation of CSOs, which play an important role in Manipur. (IPA Service)
