By KUSHAL JEENA
Accusing the central and state governments of helping militant outfits to grow in the state of strife-torn northeastern state of Manipur on the pretext of peace process, the People’s Alliance for Peace and Progress, Manipur said and demanded both the governments to immediately scrap the agreement.
The PAPPM, a conglomerate of indigenous local social and political bodies that have been launching a tirade against Kuki National Army, which the local PAPPM describes as a grouping led by foreigners and militants, has launched a local movement to force the government to immediate withdrawal of suspension of operations agreement to protect the rights of natives.
“It appears that the governments of India and Manipur are helping them (militants) to grow under the pretext of peace process by handing over a large tract of land of Manipur under their control and thus sacrificing the national interests in the long run, “said M Bobby Meetei, the president of local grouping.
He said that these individuals and organizations controlled by the militants would not hesitate to sacrifice the interests of the people of Manipur with the permission of the then Maharaja of Manipur. It is quite evident from the large influx of people from Myanmar in recent times under the patronage of these militant groups and making them settle in various places in hill areas of Manipur without any scant respect of law by conspiring with the bureaucrats and politicians. he said.
Despite being not a very prominent organization, the People’s Alliance for Peace and Progress, Manipur has made its presence felt violence hit tiny state, pointing the finger of accusation to armed groupings under the Suspension of Operations pact with both the Centre and the State Government, of being behind the mass scale poppy plantations taken up in the hills. The PAPPM has also accelerated its plans further accusing the top leaders of the groups under the SoO pact of being illegal migrants from Myanmar.
The sensitive northeastern state of Manipur witnessed incidents of violence that that displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. The violence erupted during a tribal solidarity march on May 3, which was organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur to protest the inclusion of the Meitei community in the list of the state’s Scheduled Tribes. The Manipur High Court provided further momentum to the demand after it passed an order in April.
However the incidents of communal violence gained momentum when local Meitei agitators pulled down the Anglo-Kuki War Memorial that was followed by the razing of Vaiphei houses in Kangvai village in retaliation by other groups. The violence then spread to other areas of Manipur, prompting the Governor to issue a ‘shoot at sight’ order, allowing all magistrates to issue the same when persuasion, warning, and reasonable force “have been exhausted and the situation could not be controlled”.
The Army and Assam Rifles swung into action and conducted flag marches in the affected areas. However, the communal riots spread in various parts of the state collapsed the law and order situation in the state, and the displacement of thousands of people began. Both the central and state governments who were held responsible for the crisis by the locals remained spectators even as 60 people were killed and many injured during the communal violence.
The complex sociopolitical history of the state of Manipur is one of the key reasons behind the outbreak of such large-scale communal violence. Even as the situation remains sensitive and tense, it is pertinent to address the root causes and work towards a lasting solution to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
The ethnic differences and conflicts that exist in the State are to be taken into consideration to understand the Manipur situation. These conflicts have been fuelled by political, economic, and cultural grievances that have existed for a long time. The Meitei community, which constitutes more than half of the State’s population and dominates the valley region that covers only 10 percent of the State’s geography, has a significant political presence with 40 out of the State’s 60 MLAs.
The tribes, who inhabit the hilly areas that comprise 90 percent of the State’s geographical area, have limited political representation with only 20 MLAs in the State Assembly. The demand for ST status for the Meitei community has been a topic of debate and contention between the Meiteis and the tribal communities of the State. The Meiteis, who constitute the majority population of the State and inhabit the Imphal Valley, have been demanding ST status for over a decade. Their argument is that they are the indigenous community of the State and are facing a threat to their land, culture and identity due to influx and assimilation of outsiders.
The tribal communities have always been opposed to such demand because they fear that it will reduce their political representation, reservation benefits and land rights, given the dominance of Meiteis in social and political spheres. They consider the demand as a threat to their existence and an attempt by the Meiteis to control the entire State. The issue of reservations might be the immediate cause of the recent violence, but there are other underlying issues that fuelled the recent conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The tensions rose for instance when the State government launched an anti-drug campaign targeting poppy cultivation in the hill districts, which was seen as targeting the Kukis. There was also discontent over the government’s notice claiming that more than 30 villages in the Churachandpur Khoupum Protected Forest area were “illegal settlements” and their residents “encroachers”. The Kuki groups claimed that this was a violation of Article 371C, which grants administrative autonomy to the hill areas, and accused the Government of discriminating against them and favouring the Meiteis. This fear and tension within the Kuki community was further inflamed by the High Court’s order to expedite the recommendation for granting ST status to the Meiteis. All of these issues are intertwined with other social and economic grievances, leading to a complex situation that has now erupted into violence.
The communal tension further aggravated when chief minister Biren Singh inaugurated an open gym in the area, which was burned down. Despite suspicions that a major incident might occur, the government failed to anticipate the violence, indicating a weak State intelligence. Although the government claims to be a champion, it failed to anticipate and handle the conflict between the two communities. The excessive focus on the “War against Drugs” by the state government resulted in eviction drives, including one that affected many Kuki villages, which prompted some BJP MLAs to raise concerns about perceived governance bias and demand a change in the party’s State leadership. Evictions ostensibly carried out for forest protection and to remove “outsiders” can inflame passions among those who depend on the hills for their livelihoods. Without resettlement and compensation measures, this only increases the sense of injustice among those affected. The State Government needs to establish a mechanism to communicate with people across ethnic divides.
According to experts and political analysts the unrest in the State is a clear indication of the deep-rooted ethnic divide and mistrust among different communities residing in the State. It is necessary to find a political solution to such issues. The use of armed forces and restrictions will only worsen the situation, especially in a State where diverse communities have faced long-term measures of repression.
Both the central and state governments need to initiate political dialogues with all stakeholders, including different communities, and address their concerns in a fair and transparent manner to maintain law and order in the state and prevent any further harm to innocent lives. Civil societies and media should also play a constructive role in promoting peace and harmony among different communities and prevent the spread of misinformation and rumours.
People living in the State should be made to understand that violence is not the solution to any problem, and it is important to coexist peacefully with respect and tolerance towards each other’s culture and identity. Peace committees can be formed, in which individuals belonging to different communities can work together for peaceful coexistence.
The Prime Minister and Union Home Minister who are currently engaged in overtime work to make desperate last ditch attempt to win an electoral battle that they have already low in the down southern state of Karnataka to the opposition, to pay attention to the happenings in the sensitive north eastern regions before it turns into a full-fledged ethnic crisis to which this far-flung area is prone to as the country had witnessed in the past.
