TODAY -

‘Solution first, peace later’ slogan : Points to ponder for all
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 16 2023 -



‘Solution First, Peace Later.’

This is the slogan that the ingeniously christened Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), seem intent on living up and by default this means that these two bodies are not ready to give peace a chance.

And it stands that for Manipur to come anywhere near the understanding of peace, people on either side will have to demonstrate that they are willing to listen.

That is listen to reasoning. To Manipur, the solution that the ITLF and CoTU are seeking falls beyond the realm of discussion.

Cannot live with them, meaning the Meiteis, is the line of reasoning that has been peddled for the ‘separate administration’ call, while the fact remains that it was under the supervision of ITLF that the first match stick was struck on May 3 at Torbung located 12 kilometres beyond Chura-chandpur.

Imphal and the valley districts retaliated only late into the evening of May 3 and while many may say that the retaliation was bloody, it stands that such a reaction would not have come if gun toting elements had not taken part in the Tribal Solidarity March of May 3 and if houses had not been razed to the ground at Torbung and later at the Meitei settlements at Churachandpur town.

The levelled fields at Churachandpur town today stand as mute spectators of the Meitei houses which were bull dozed, pulled down to the ground and levelled to make them look like vast football fields.

Students studying at the newly opened Churachandpur Medical College as well as Meiteis staying at Churachandpur back then, were saved not due to the benevolence of anyone but due to the needed action taken up by the State machineries there.

It was also more or less the same at Kangpokpi and Moreh, with many still having to live at Relief Centres at Imphal and at the other valley districts.

175 people have been killed on either side of the clash divide while 32 are still missing, including a young man who was a former editorial staff of The Sangai Express.

If the May 4 nude parade of two girls grabbed the attention of the Nation, forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break his silence and utter some words of condemnation, the recent video clip of two Meitei youths being mocked, thrashed, shot dead with their bodies being hacked later and rolled into a ditch has been met with a stoic silence from the people who matter.

It is against this reality that the separate administration call, seasoned with the line ‘we cannot live with them anymore’, has been raised and nothing could be more unacceptable than this.

Playing the victim card and reaching out to foreign countries, notably the European Parliament and Israel, underlines the reason behind the call for a National Register of Citizens.

More than four months down the line since violence erupted and the clash is today no longer understood only in the context of the direct clash between two adversaries but in the way in which different tactics have been used to discredit the other side.

The manner in which attempts were made to portray the clash as one between tribals and non-tribals, as a clash along religious divides and the numerous tactics being employed to garner the sympathy of the country and beyond are starkly visible.

It was this desperate attempt to discredit the other side that the story or stories of the clash featured in the European Parliament, in how Israel was sounded etc.

The longer the clash is allowed to drag on the more difficult it will become for Manipur to walk the road to normalcy and this seems to be the biggest challenge before the Government.

Imphal is literally lost other than just looking up to New Delhi to deliver the magic formula.

New Delhi too is still groping in the dark and even as Imphal and Delhi continue to grope in the dark, bodies on either side keep piling up.

As repeatedly pointed out in this column, the road to normalcy will have to start from the people.

At the same time it is also important to question what it is that Manipur wants.

The Kukis have already raised the demand for a separate administration.

What is it that Imphal would want ? Can a united voice be raised on this ?



* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Protesters & SF @Kwakta #2: Gallery
  • Violence in Manipur 2023 :: News Timeline
  • Marina by Night
  • Seminar at "Oriental Theological College"
  • Indo-Naga Talks (From 2012) :: Timeline
  • Vote for me or my wife
  • Sohra International Half Marathon
  • State failure vis-a-vis ethnic cleansing
  • The blockade on the road to peace
  • World Bamboo Day @Patsoi #1: Gallery
  • The Meitei Nupi :: Poem
  • Traumatic experiences: Kuki-Meitei clash #1
  • Tifo unveiled during NE United game
  • Sign languages as Career
  • Torbung on May 3: Where it all started
  • The danger of Zalengam dream
  • The descent of Radha-Krishna #6: Download
  • Conflict in Manipur: Summary of issues
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #5
  • Get to know more about Canine Distemper
  • The Power of Poppy - 3 :: Poem
  • Why Is Manipur Burning ?
  • Condemns Biased UN Side Event
  • Inpui Baptist Church celebrated Decadal
  • When the public relations fail #2
  • A decade for youth to make India #1
  • Tell the story to the outside world
  • Misleading the House of Commons
  • 'Laangban Chara Tamba' #2: Gallery
  • Village Volunteers: Protectors of the Nation
  • World Bamboo Day Painting Comp. results
  • Voluntary Blood Donation Camp
  • Improved potato varieties suited to Manipur
  • Autumn hair care: Tips for healthier hair
  • Manipur cannot go on like this
  • Shifting the theatre of war to Geneva
  • 1958: Kuki Chiefs' Memo to Union HM
  • Never too early never too late
  • Celebrities' approaches to Mental Health
  • International Day of Peace
  • Litter box training for cats
  • Trek leaders training programme
  • An indifferent Delhi
  • A good move with bad intention
  • Protesters & AR @Pallel #2: Gallery
  • Before the inflection point in our society !
  • Whither Naga Peace? Spl session of Parl
  • Lumpy Skin Disease
  • In total chaos since May 3 evening
  • Clutching at straws by drowning man
  • Winter Relief @ Mayang Imphal : Gallery
  • World Bamboo Day at Chandigarh
  • Will leaders walk the talk to end TB at UN
  • When the public relations fail #1
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #4
  • Reimpose AFSPA call
  • Lesson to be learnt from SAFF boys
  • Breaches of International Humanitarian Law
  • Do we have a Government!
  • 'Birthday boy' glows, critics wonder...
  • Two Murals from Two Corners
  • Sir, a birthday treat for us
  • 'Laangban Chara Tamba' #1: Gallery
  • Student Council: Pillars of Governance
  • World Ozone Day observed at Imphal
  • Col N Hemachandra: Brigadier in Army
  • The Power of Poppy - 2 :: Poem
  • Manipur Crisis: You can bring Delhi to Imphal
  • Manipuri Kokyet finds space in Parliament
  • Relief materials at Moirang, Thoubal
  • Armed Forces' role in Manipur under scrutiny
  • India elevated G20 as 'premier forum'
  • 'Solution first, peace later' slogan
  • Hoping against hope
  • Candle light vigil @ Kangla #2: Gallery
  • DMCC met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
  • The existential crisis - The Reality
  • Seriousness of legal proceedings
  • Role of Governor in summoning Assembly #2
  • One-sided reports vis-a-vis Manipur crisis
  • Death of a Sub-inspector
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra : Download
  • Dr Marjit: Academic Award at Malaysia
  • Interreligious Appeal to end violence
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #3
  • Manipur Special Youth Assembly Session
  • From new districts to separate State
  • Looking for ally, desperately
  • Protesters & SF @Kwakta #1: Gallery
  • An Open Letter to President Joe Biden
  • Elephants in a Seed
  • Switzerland of India become a love lost State
  • Restoration of mining affected areas
  • Why did Army invite EGI : CJI
  • EGI invited by Army for objective assessment!
  • Note on Kuki-Hmar Trouble [1960]
  • Sober Thoughts
  • Weaving Looms presented at Relief Camp
  • A compassionate relief & cash payment
  • Sisters and brothers :: Poem
  • Coming to the negotiating table
  • The way forward
  • Protesters & AR @Pallel #1: Gallery
  • Romi Meitei : Best director @Kazan film fest
  • Success of Rahmani30 in Manipur NEET-UG
  • Modi, Biren, Shah exposes tragic series
  • Bharat is older than India
  • Mega Health Camp & Skill Development
  • Demand for ST tag by Meiteis
  • Internationalising the Kuki-Meitei conflict
  • The descent of Radha-Krishna #5: Download
  • Creating Hope Through Action
  • Ningthoujam Binoy: National Teachers' Award
  • The Power of Poppy - 1 :: Poem
  • Role of Governor in summoning Assembly #1
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #2
  • Darkest Era of Meiteis
  • Robert Memorial Internship Awarded
  • Churachandpur Meiteis at the crossroads
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #3
  • Meeting of Meitei Club, Burari
  • G20 call to action in agriculture
  • Silent on the remains at CCpur
  • The resolution to unite all CSOs
  • Rebuttal: EGI Fact-finding Mission Report
  • S Tiken (Thang-Ta) Fellowhsip Award
  • Manipuri or Meitei ?
  • Relief Distribution at Wakhong Pukao
  • Human-centric globalisation : Taking G20
  • Cancer Screening at SP Office, Imphal
  • Doing a disservice to Kuki-Chin cause
  • Epidemic threat at relief centres
  • The Chothes of Manipur
  • Communalism; A Dangerous Ism
  • Condemns the incident at Chalwa
  • Unity - need of the hour
  • International Day of Police Cooperation
  • 5,000 Scholarships for 1st year undergrad
  • Classic case of victimising the victims
  • 11 years in service and raring to go
  • Relief Work - August 2023 : Gallery
  • Krishna Leela
  • Gurkha War & diaspora in Manipur #1
  • Cancer Awareness at Imphal East
  • Training on cultivation of mushroom
  • Illegal immigrants & Manipur violence
  • Missing fact in EGI's fact-finding report
  • Is govt inviting a 3rd Nupi Lal ?
  • The Chieftaindom of Kukis
  • The role of teachers in society
  • Condolence Message
  • Framework for the future of work
  • Understanding Manipur crisis in four days!
  • The case of 'Meitei media'
  • List of Kings of Manipur: 33 - 1984 AD
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #2
  • Winter Relief Services commenced
  • Special Session of Parliament
  • Advantage of simultaneous election in India
  • Fake Finding Committee ?
  • Poisoning the mind of Kuki-Chin people
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra #4 : Book
  • Organic links between C3C & Manipur conflict
  • Entrepreneur set to introduce first Tea Wine
  • Remedies to reduce hair growth on upper lip
  • Rally against Narco-Terrorism #3 : Gallery
  • On ethnic Nationalism & exclusive domains
  • Stay vigilant on Employment Offers
  • Waterways development in NE India
  • Condemn accusations on Pangal
  • Violence doesn't bring lasting solution #2
  • Feeding lies and more lies
  • Blame it on CSOs
  • Climate Change & flawed solution in Manipur
  • 92th Martyrdom Day of Haipou Jadonang
  • Change the minds, Peace is possible anytime
  • Who is running Nagaland Govt ?
  • Chronological report on Manipur violence #1
  • Manipur Distress Relief Work : August
  • Playing heroes on social media
  • Yes, it's time for a public assembly
  • Haipou Jadonang Martyrdom Day
  • September Calendar for Year 2023 : Tools
  • Statement of Thadou Students' Assn
  • Land of jewel trapped under conspiracies #4
  • Health Awareness Programme at MU
  • Manipur- 13 medals at Junior National Judo
  • Where have the guns come from ?
  • The curious case of 10 Kuki MLAs
  • Candle light vigil @ Kangla #1: Gallery
  • Restoring peace - The talk of the town
  • National Sports Day 2023
  • Rethinking caste-based reservations in India
  • Why computer studies is gaining popularity
  • Cold bucket of water after a hot shower
  • Committing a crime to avoid a crisis
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra #3 : Book
  • 19th Asian Games: 43 Manipuri athletes
  • Relationship of Manipur & Tai kingdom #3
  • Violence doesn't bring lasting solution #1
  • Bangladesh's aid to Myanmar
  • Does 'separate State' agenda drive violence?
  • Is the Chief Minister lying?
  • Hunger Marchers' Day
  • Sudden strike & the knotty quagmire
  • Moon, Bharatnaut and ShivShakti
  • Even Rocket Science is doable
  • Tales from relief camps
  • All in a day's session
  • Manipur in History: Reflection...
  • Langonjam Birmangal: Manipuri literature #2
  • Onam Fever (Festival of Kerala)
  • Cancer Awareness Program at Khongman
  • Manipuri film @ National Film Award
  • Huidrom Oliviya: bronze at World Cadet Judo
  • Patriots' Day @ Kangla: Gallery
  • Congratulations to Dr Raghu Ningthoujam
  • Scientist Raghu Ningthoujam leads team
  • Intractable Framework Agreement of IM
  • Protesters with Army [Aug 03] #3 : Gallery
  • Indigenous Wrestling @ Purul : Gallery
  • Patriots' Day @ Thangal Temple: Gallery
  • Maram folklore & Meitei connection
  • >
  • 'Remove Assam Rifles' [Aug 07] #2 : Gallery
  • Raja Dumbragi Jeevan Charitra #1 : Book
  • Patriots' Day @ Hicham Yaicham : Gallery
  • Model of Spelling-bee Competition
  • Patriots' Day @ New Delhi : Gallery
  • Protest against AR [9 Aug] : Gallery
  • Taionaba Taibang Gi Akanba Nongju
  • Protesters with Army [Aug 03] #2 : Gallery
  • Nang-eigi Pangal Sonbi Emado
  • 'Remove Assam Rifles' [Aug 07] #1 : Gallery
  • Rally against Narco-Terrorism #1 : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2023 #3: Gallery
  • HSLC 2023 :: Top 25 Rank Holders
  • HSLC 2023 :: Subject Topper
  • HSLC 2023 :: Full Result
  • HSLC 2023 :: Compartmental Result
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Govt Schools
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Private Schools
  • HSLC 2023 :: Pass % : Aided Schools
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Science
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Arts
  • HSE 2023 Toppers :: Commerce
  • From May 3, 1993 to the present
  • COVID-19 : Impact in Manipur :: News Timeline
  • Downloadable Manipuri Calendar for 2023