Seminar : "Roots Of Conflict Resolution In Manipur"
Late Date : 25th March, 2015

CALL FOR PAPERS

Department of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Regional Campus, Manipur is organising a two days National Seminar on “ROOTS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN MANIPUR: CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS” on 8th- 9th April 2015. The seminar is sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi.

The sub themes:
o Roots of Conflict Resolution
o State & Conflict Resolution
o Political Economy of Conflict Situation
o Perspectives on Conflict Resolution
o Others related to the theme

Interested individuals can submit abstract (500 words) in English and Manipuri with author profile (50 word) on any of the sub-theme at hanjabam(at)gmail(dot)com on or before 25th March, 2015. Selected abstracts will be notified by 31st March, 2015

Interested delegates are requested to get registered by 31st March, 2015 by paying an amount of Rs 300 (three hundred) for students/scholars and Rs 500 (five hundred) for others.

NO SPOT REGISTRATION.

For registration contact:
1. Dr. Homen Thangjam (+91 9612455367), MB College, Imphal;
2. Dr. Aheibam Koireng (+91 9774243932), Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University
3. Dr. H Shukhdeba Sharma (+91 9612993273) (Seminar Coordinator) IGNTU

CONCEPT NOTE:

Two day National Seminar
ROOTS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN MANIPUR:
CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS

Organised by
Department of Social Work,
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (A Central University)
Regional Campus, Manipur

Date: 8th-9th April 2015
Venue: IGNTU Conference Hall

Manipur was an erstwhile Asiatic Kingdom having extended their powers to its neighbouring kingdoms. Even though its expansion fluctuates from time to time depending on the capacity of the Kings, Manipur to a larger extent has been able to protect her sovereignty from external forces. Manipur continued her friendship with the British by mutually opening political Agents in each other territory. The British have extended their friendship with a view to expand their colonialism.

In 1835, the British decided to retain a Political Agent in Manipur with a view to preserving a friendly inter-course, preventing border feuds and disturbance. Manipur also opened the Political Agent in the British Territory at Lakhimpur (Cachar) as well as Calcutta. The Political Agent acted like an ambassador in the country. The relation with British broke down after the British Interference with military power in 1891 and Manipur was colonised by the British after Manipur was defeated in the Anglo-Manipur war in 1891. After British suzerainty lapsed on midnight 14 August 1947, Manipur promulgated the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 on 26 September 1947.

On June 1948, election was conducted based on universal adult franchise and the Maharaja inaugurated the first Assembly Session (read Parliament) on 18 October 1948. This experience of a democratic and independent Manipur came to an end once it was contentiously merged with the Indian Union. The State Assembly with 53 (fifty-three) seats, which enjoyed the mandate of the people and which was in place before the instance of merger, was dissolved and the Asiatic Kingdom was degraded to the status of a Part C State.

The weakness of the Agreement lies in the fact that the people of Manipur did not give consent in any form to the Merger Agreement. In fact consent of the people was not sought at all on the issue. Therefore, the “National Convention on Manipur Merger Issue” held at Imphal on 28–29 October 1993, resolved that the Agreement signed by and between the Maharaja of Manipur and the representatives of the Dominion of India on the 21 September 1949 does not have any legal and constitutional validity.

The contentious merger was resisted through an armed movement led by the legendary leader Hijam Irabot. His idea of an independent Manipur was endorsed by the people of Manipur at a public meeting held on 3 August 1949. Hijam Irabot passed away on 26 September 1951 with the Manipur National Union proclaimed Manipur’s independence in 1953. It was followed by the Meitei State Committee taking to armed struggle in 1960. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was formed in 1964 with the stated objective of restoring the sovereign independent status of Manipur. In September 1978, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with a leftist ideology and trained in guerrilla warfare in China, was founded. The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and its military wing PLA unilaterally signed the Common Article 3 of the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1997 and also submitted a memorandum to the UN Decolonization Committee. Subsequently, Manipur also witnessed the growth of a number of other organizations since the 1970s.

The movement continues even today and it affects the people of Manipur in various forms and intensity. However, no concrete process is initiated by the state government. Moreover, the difference of position of the state and non-state on the root cause of armed conflict in Manipur has been the major contention. The Indian State on still maintains that it is a “law and order” problem arising out of frustration of the “unemployed” and “misguided” youths in an underdeveloped and backward state whereas the armed opposition groups maintain that Manipur was an ancient Asiatic Kingdom with a written Constitution and maintained political relationship with the British as well as other neighbouring kingdoms.

Moreover, the ancient kingdom was annexed by India with the use of military power in 1949 during the integration drive of the Princely States with the Indian Union is often cited to justify the claim. For instance, Manipur was “taken over” because of being a “border state” and “backward”, and therefore, a “strategic necessity” as per VP Menon.

Thus, according to the armed opposition groups, the ongoing armed movement in Manipur is justified and taken as a movement for independence, restoration of lost sovereignty and self-determination movement or national liberation or de-colonialization movement, etc. They even announced to fight for independence in their Independence Day speech which is celebrated on 25th February every year.

Even after more than 60 years of armed conflict in Manipur, the Government and the armed opposition groups are moving in parallel directions in terms of defining the situation or identifying the root cause(s). The Government has not accepted the position of the armed opposition groups. Similarly, in-spite of engaging with international cooperation (military or otherwise), particularly with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, to suppress the armed movement in the state, the government continues to claim that it is a law and order problem, and most recently, terrorism.

There has been no meeting point for the conflict situation of Manipur. Mere appeals for peace talks without any strategy from time to time along with military engagements cannot bring about any tangible solution or in addressing the problem. This is simply a process of managing the conflict but managing the conflict has the danger of not resolving it. It only creates multiply the problems which we are witnessing today.

With this background, the proposed seminar seeks to examine the conflict between the state and the non-state which is banned by the Government of India in following sub themes.

o Roots of Conflict Resolution
o State & Conflict Resolution
o Political Economy of Conflict Situation
o Perspectives on Conflict Resolution
o Others related to the theme

For Details Contact:
Dr. Hanjabam Shukhdeba Sharma
Seminar Coordinator
Department of Social Work
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (A Central University)
Regional Campus Manipur
hanjabam(at)gmail(dot)com