Manipur's ethnic conflict pose the greatest threat to human security

Takhellambam Nepolin *

Manipur is a tiny, charming State located in the easternmost region of North East India. Manipur is one of the most stunning and charming States in the world due to its population's diversity in terms of ethnicity, language, and religion.

The State's geographical location is quite unusual; 90 percent of its territory is surrounded by nine hilly range, and the remaining 10 percent is in the valley in the State's middle, which we call Imphal Valley. The entire adorable State is referred to as "Kangleipak or Sanaleipak", and it is bordered by the States of Assam, Mizoram, and Nagaland as well as the 398-kilometre-long international frontier known as Burma, currently Myanmar.

In the State of Manipur, there are residences for about 36 distinct ethnic groups. It encompasses significant ethnic communities consisting of Meiteis/Meeteis, Nagas, Meitei Pangals, and Kukis. 60 percent of the entire population, or the majority of the population, resides in the confined Imphal valley region.

In terms of improving the current level of security and economic development, the region provides immense geopolitical and economic potential, and Manipur serves as the gateway to Southeast Asian countries. However, the reality is that the region is adversely harmed in a number of ways, with racial hatred sparked by misunderstandings being one of the main concerns. Such ethnic clashes frequently occurred in the state, such as the Naga-Kuki clash in 1992–1997, the Meitei Pangal clash in 1993, and the Kuki-Paite conflict in 1997–98 (both belonging to the same Kuki-Chin Mizo group).

In addition to this, another major conflict between the State's two ethnic groups (the Meitei/Meetei and the Chin-Kuki) has been raging on in Manipur for the past one and a half months. To protest the Meitei/Meetei community's desire for ST (Scheduled Tribe) status, the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) organised a "Tribal Solidarity March" in the hill districts on May 3, 2023.

The entire tribal population of Manipur participated in this peace demonstration. However, following the peace demonstration rally, only one community Chin-Kuki engaged in violence. The indigenous Naga community does not take part in the ongoing conflict, yet they attended the peace demonstration alongside with Kuki.

These also clearly demonstrate that the current turmoil in Manipur is not caused by the Meitei community's demand for ST designation; rather, it is the result of pre-planned violence involving a variety of interests. Numerous videos of Kuki militants brandishing AK-47s and openly engage in the so called Peace Rally went viral on various social media platform.

After the solidarity vigil, Manipur has been on fire. The Chin-Kuki community, one of Manipur's ethnic groups, claims that Meitei burned their community's centenary gate, which bears the words "Anglo Kuki War," in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. There is no proof of this claim, but it was assumed that it was Meitei who committed the act of arson, which is what sparked the conflict on the dark day of May 3, 2023.

Furthermore, they spread false information to the public, alleging that the Meitei community had set fire to the gate marking the centenary of the Anglo-Kuki War in an effort to protest their inclusion on the ST (Scheduled Tribe) list. After that, people of the Chin-Kuki community and the Chin-Kuki militant group operating under the SoO (Suspension of Operation) started firing and torching a large number of residences in Meitei village, which is situated on the fringe of Bishnupur District and Churachandpur District in Manipur.

Burning of houses belonging to the Meitei was documented in numerous videos and photos that quickly gained popularity on various social media platforms. On May 3, late in the evening, the Chin-Kuki and Chin-Kuki militant groups began attacking Moreh and Churachandpur, where they began killing civilians and robbing homes belonging to the defenseless Meitei community who reside in Lamka town, in the Churachandpur District, and Moreh town, in Tengoupal District of Manipur.

The Manipur Government simultaneously banned mobile internet access throughout the State. An angry mob began torching numerous homes in the capital of Manipur after hearing of the atrocities committed by the Chin-Kuki community in the defenseless and innocent Meitei-populated area. This sort of misunderstanding sparked the most serious humanitarian crisis in Manipur's history. Until now, this particular type of ethnic conflict has been the most destructive and has posed the greatest threat to human security.

Due to the racial unrest in the area, the Chin-kuki community has simultaneously blocked the State's two lifelines, NH-2 Imphal-Dimapur Road (AH-1) and NH-37 Imphal-Jiribam Road. The transit of necessary goods and vital medicines is hampered in Manipur as a result of the bandh and blockade. As a result, it has a significant impact on the region's human security. The Kuki militant groups have been employing high-tech automatic and sniper weaponry and firing on a regular basis in every nook and cranny of the defenseless Meitei-populated area.

The Manipur Government also issued "shoot-at-sight" order to calm the situation, but so far, nothing has changed. The State administration has been prohibiting all forms of internet access for about one and a half months in an effort to reduce violence, but this move has impacted the State greatly in many other sectors as well.

In this short period of time, more than 3000 homes (approx.) were burned down, 100 or more innocent people were killed, many are still missing, and more than 50 thousand people from both communities were displaced. All of the displaced families from both communities have taken shelter in various privately run and Government-sponsored relief camps located throughout Manipur. All of these pose a serious threat to human security unless they lead reasonably stable lives.

Manipur has emerged over the last decade as India's main narcotics hub, creating a miniature Golden Triangle within the Nation. The hill area of Manipur, particularly in the districts of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Kamjong Chandel, and Tengnoupal, is host to a significant amount of illegal poppy cultivation. The illegal immigrant Chin-Kuki population has relocated all of these activities from Myanmar, and the area that is predominantly used for poppy cultivation is also inhabited by the Chin-Kuki community.

Due to the pre-and post-military crackdown in Myanmar, an extensive number of illegal Chin-Kuki as well as militant organizations with multiple objectives infiltrated the 398 km porous border towards Manipur. Furthermore, Jiribam and Moreah have frequently seen large influx of illegal immigrants and refugees. It's thought that the people of the Chin-Kuki group, including the Kuki, Mizo, and other fewer groups, shifted from the Chin region of Myanmar. In fact, a few of them claim themselves as descendants of the lost tribe of Israel.

The drug trade in the State of Manipur is solely the fault of these blatantly illegal immigrants from Myanmar. The main concern is that terrorist organizations use this type of narcotics trade as their primary means of financing to run their organizations. These kinds of bloody funds are the primary causes of racial animosity in the State. The most prominent instance of "Narco-Terrorism" is the current Manipur scenario. As a result, not only the human security of the region but also National security of India is seriously threatened by this kind of illegal influx from Myanmar and illegal activities like poppy plantation and drug manufacturing.

In this urgent circumstance, even the legislators—10 Chin-Kuki MLAs from Manipur who represent the Kuki-dominated region of Manipur—break the law and take advantage rather than attempting to address the problem. They also called for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated region. The Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N Biren Singh, adopted a number of initiatives for the welfare of the State against land encroachment in protected forest land, the War on Drug Campaign 2.0 against the cultivation of poppies and the manufacturing of drugs, as well as illegal migration in the State. All of these initiatives collectively made the situation worse.

Actually, the nefarious actions of narco-terrorism and a covert plan to construct Greater Mizoram/Kukiland are the main causes of the ongoing bloodshed and turmoil in Manipur, not the demand for ST status or religious differences. All of these facts make it quite clear that the the Chin-Kuki Militant Groups are engaged in a broad conspiracy to further their political objectives. The true beginning of this continuous, pre-planned carnage is April 27, 2023, not May 3rd 2023.

One day before the Chief Minister's arrival to attend MLA LM Khaute’s first anniversary as an MLA of Churachanpur Assembly constituency, an open gym built at the PT Sports Complex in New Lamka, Churachandpur district of Manipur, was set on fire. On the same day, the CM was to inaugurate the open gym, which Chin-Kuki community burned down the day before it was to be opened in protest of the CM's initiatives, including the removal of unlawful encroachers from protected forest areas, the prohibition of poppy production, illegal migration, and many others.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) (only for Kuki community not for all tribes of Manipur) also called a total shutdown in Churachandpur district on April 28, 2023, from 8 am to 4 pm, in protest against the Government's land survey of reserved forests, protected forests, wetland habitats, and wildlife, as well as the eviction of villages and the demolition of Churches built in the reserved forest land area.

These are the actual primary factors that have led to the State's continued bloodshed and turmoil. The fact that there is no relationship between the ongoing pre-planned ethnic cleansing and the Meitei's pursuit of ST designation is therefore pretty clear in light of all of the aforementioned facts.

To preserve the State's unity and integrity, promote peace and harmony, and bring about a return to normalcy are the main goals of the Meitei/Meetei community. The Chin-Kuki community, on the other hand, calls for a separate administration in the State that serves just only the Chin-Kuki community, which once again amply illustrates the divergent goals of both communities. In light of all of these realities, both the State and Central Governments should move quickly to restore peace and normalcy in the State since failure otherwise would pose a serious human security threat as well as the biggest National Security threat in the country.

In these difficult times, one Kuki militant group, UKLF (United Kuki Liberation Front) Chairman SS Haokip, claimed that they significantly aided the BJP's victory in the 2015 District Council Election, the 2017 State Assembly Election, and the 2019 Lok Sabha Election. Now, they are claiming to the BJP Government that they want to get the demand as per their agreement that they made before the election. All of these are the main reasons that the BJP Government is not taking any action against the Chin Kuki Militant outfit even though they break the ground rule of SoO and doing terrorist activities also.

These kind of murky politics are also present in the current bloodshed. These phrases are being muttered in everyone's mouths. Even at this critical moment the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has not mentioned about this tragedy. "What is the hidden agenda of the Central Government?" is a question that people in every section of Manipur are asking. Please don't be silent; it won't bring about any solution.

In the public mindset of dread and anxiety, those kinds of silent statements shout loudly. The prolonged situation in Manipur significantly jeopardizes people's lives, dignity, and well-being. In order to ensure both regional peace and human security in the state of Manipur, the state and central governments should act without delay to curb the violence in the state.

Way Forward

1. The Government needs to take the necessary steps to rebuild all the displaced families' homes and provide for their rehabilitation and resettlement.

2. To address the situation, remove unwanted items, and allow the general public to resume their normal lives, the Government should implement the required security arrange- ments in the foothills and violence-prone areas.

3. Create a robust highway protection force for the two vital lifelines of the State to ensure uninterrupted movement of merchandise, necessities, and other vital items.

4. Set up strict surveillance across the Indo- Myanmar border to monitor and manage both illegal activity and influxes.

5. In addition to the Imphal valley, law and order should be rigorously enforced in the hilly areas as well.

6. Ensure that the Indo-Myanmar border fence is erected on time.

7. Implementation of the NRC in Manipur based on the 1951 census.

8. Eliminate illegal poppy production by the Chin-Kuki community, which is supported by a Kuki militant group, and take decisive action instead of taking a comprehensive approach to individuals who are participating in the drug trade.

9. All political parties come together to defend the State against foreign assaults emanating from Myanmar.

10. Take the harshest measures possible against the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs who are associated with terrorists and demand a separate administration.

11. Lift the SoO (Suspension of Operation) and take appropriate legal action against anyone who violates the SoO ground rule.

12. Both sides must be required to begin a discourse towards peace rather than resort to violence. Communication plays a crucial role in securing peace and stability in the state. So, the only way to bring peace to the State is this way.