Peace Committee : Half baked idea ? Nipped before its first flight
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 14, 2023 -
Seems more like a case of a stillborn idea.
An idea that came about to apply that much needed balm-Peace, but which has practically been nipped in the bud even before its take off !
The Kuki Inpi, Manipur has made its stand clear.
Cannot sit on the same table and talk peace with ‘individuals who have engineered the violence against its people’ is the line that has been adopted prominently by it while washing its hands off the Peace Committee formed at the initiative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
KIM sort of elaborated this with the allegation that ‘Manipur Government led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh has lost all credibility as it had allegedly orchestrated the violence by sponsoring groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun against the Kukis.’
While the KIM did not adopt the ‘calling out individual names (other than the CM)’ approach, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum was more like ‘give it as it is’ in objecting to the inclusion of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and representatives of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in the Peace Committee.
The stand of the two Kuki bodies fall perfectly in line with the earlier slogan that has been raised, ‘Peace later, solution first’ and correlates perfectly with the ‘separate administration’ call given by the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs.
The mark of a common signature running through the stand of the two bodies and the 10 Chin-Kuki MLAs is unmistakable and herein lies a very significant point, significant because the so far unsaid things have come out in the open without the need of vocalising it in the public domain !
‘Until and unless the narco-terrorists and the illegal immigrants are controlled, peace and normalcy will remain a far cry,’ is the line struck by the COCOMI while announcing its decision to stay away from the Peace Committee.
With three of the most important bodies, on either side of the clash divide, deciding to stay away, the question ‘Was not enough homework done before the Peace Committee was constituted’ is what follows naturally.
The Government, more specifically the Union Home Ministry may like to think otherwise, but the reality is, everything indicates that the efforts to put Manipur on the track of peace may just have run into its first official hurdle.
Setting pre-conditions for peace efforts to start off the block may not just be what the doctors would prescribe for the ailment that has sent Manipur to the Intensive Care Unit for over 40 days now.
Unfortunate it is but this is exactly the stand of KIM, ITLF and COCOMI, which will do noting but prolong the stay in the ICU for Manipur.
Without pre-condition is always the best condition for any warring side to come to the negotiating table and talk things over but with both sides having set their own understanding of pre-conditions, how the Union Home Ministry aided by the State Government manage to chart a way between the two sides will decide the political maturity and willingness of Imphal and Delhi to settle the issue without leaving anyone with the feeling that they have been short changed.
Someone has to raise the white flag and waving the white flag should not be construed as ‘surrendering’ for there can be no winner here and either side should take a close look at the names of some who have been named in the 51 member Peace Committee.
Leading the list is obviously Governor Anusuiya Uikey as Chairperson and a closer look at the list would surely throw up some peace champions, who have been advocating peace and reconciliation and topping this would obviously be Lt General (Retd) Konsam Himalay Singh, who knows what war is all about and who knows better than anyone else that no one will emerge winner from the madness that has thrown Manipur in the ICU for over 40 days now.
Listen folks, it is not a competition. Be very clear on that.
* 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.