A LASTING SOLUTION STILL EVADES MANIPUR TURMOIL

Almost all states in North East India have faced different issues and forms of insurgency, violence and turbulence at some or the other time since independence. Today, most of the region’s insurgencies are dormant, as insurgent groups have declared cease fire and entered into slowmoving peace processes with government. Things were getting brighter in Manipur also as I had personally travelled through Manipur last year and found barring few incidents the environment was peaceful. Northeast India has been facing insurgencies since independence mainly attributable to lack of economic and infrastructural development and low representation in mainstream politics. Another fear amongst the multi ethnic tribes is losing their unique identity and culture. The increasing number of tourists in Manipur reassured that the situation had normalised. But this illusion has been destroyed by new clashes that erupted in May 2023. It looks like Manipur is back to situation prevailing in 1990s and only the faces have altered. Previously, Naga and Kuki were at odds; now, Meitei and Kuki are in conflict. Manipur has returned to the grip of the gun culture and return to normalcy is going to take tremendous efforts and time. Manipur is now divided into exclusive ethnic zones, largely Hindu Meiteis concentrated in the valley and the mostly Christian Kukis living in the surrounding hills. The fighting pits the Meitei, who make up 53 per cent of the state’s 2.85 million population, but occupy only 10 per cent of its land, against the Kuki and 33 other tribes, which constitute about 30 per cent of the population and are geographically more spread out in the hill areas. The conflict stems from decades of contestation over land and natural resources, fuelling deep-seated resentment among both the Meiteis and Kukis. Though, the Kukis are mostly Christian and the Meitei mostly Hindus but the current violence is more of ethnic rather than religious divides.

MAJOR ISSUES OF TURMOIL AND CURRENT VIOLENCE

The Kuki have long been recognised as a Scheduled Tribe under Indian law, an affirmative action measure that assures tribal community members access to state-run educational institutions, government jobs and safeguards such as the exclusive right to buy and own land in the state’s recognised tribal areas.

The Meitei also enjoy certain benefits on account of being recognised as a “socially and economically backward class”. But they have been demanding the tribal status as a necessity to “preserve” the community, save their ancestral land, traditions and culture. Another issue is Chin refugees from Myanmar have reportedly been seeking shelter in Manipur and radical Meitei outfits such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun accuse the Kuki, who share an ethnic heritage with the Chin, of illegally settling refugees in Manipur’s hills. The Meiteis as Manipur’s largest community enjoy immense social, political and economic advantages, and dominates police forces giving them an upper hand in the clashes. The Chief Minister who is a Meitei has echoed allegations that the Kuki are involved in the illegal drug trade in collaboration with transnational networks operating from Myanmar. Situation has deteriorated particularly after Biren Singh’s government won a second term in 2022.

The government started evicting primarily Kuki villagers from houses and villages allegedly built on forest land in violation of the Indian forest law. The Kuki, who believe the Meitei chief minister has been acting in a partisan manner, again mounted a series of protests, some of which turned violent. As of today, what is worrisome is that an estimated 4,000 weapons and half a million bullets stolen throughout the state are at the disposal of both communities and has the potential to escalate the intensity of the conflict manifold.

The Assam Rifles are not being fully utilised and permitted to operate as Meitei groups allege them biased towards Kukis and obstruct their movements and the Kukis don’t trust the Meitei-dominated state police. The Centre hasn’t been particularly proactive in dealing with Manipur conflict; nor has it been very effective at dampening unrest. The Home Minister during his visit to Manipur, met both Meitei and Kuki delegations where Meitei groups resisted Kukis’ demand for greater autonomy and wanted Assam Rifles to be replaced with another force and the Kukis wanted imposition of president’s rule in the state and an Autonomous Kuki Administration. But so far, no firm and visible actions are seen to resolve the Manipur issue except announcing creation of a committee made up of CM, elected representatives, political party leaders, and Meitei and Kuki representatives to start a peace dialogue.

The initiative was an instant failure as both Meitei and Kuki representatives refused to participate due to disagreements over the committee’s composition.

WAY AHEAD FOR RESTORATION OF PEACE IN MANIPUR

Constitute a committee acceptable to all stakeholders to negotiate peace and stability in Manipur. It may have moderates, including women, from both communities, preferably academics or civil society representatives who have not taken polarising stands during the violence. l Replace CM with someone less polarising or imposition of president’s rule or a neutral administration to guarantee peace and mediate between the parties. l Allow the Centre to assume command over all security forces in the area and recover stolen weapons. l The PM is a popular figure in Manipur and his active involvement for peace may yield results. l Measures to address the widespread sexual violence and sincere efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. l Measures to restore comity between the clashing communities by security forces who in coordination with social organisations from both communities, could facilitate an exchange of dead bodies for performing appropriate funeral rites. l Need to address Kuki aspirations for tribal autonomy, though it isn’t easy as both Meiteis & Nagas will oppose it. l Need for better infra devp, creation of more jobs, promotion of trade and commerce in the state. Manipur’s violence is a complicated web of historical, ethnic & political causes that continues to trouble the country. Govt & people must work unitedly to find lasting solution to this ethnic turmoil.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL