With centre in dilemma more clashes imminent
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 16, 2023 -

AS none of the demands raised either by the Meetei civil societies or the 10 Kuki legislators as well as Kuki organisations has evoked positive response from the central government, there is fear that clashes between the two communities will continue as both sides are now armed with deadly firearms and are resolute to avenge the casualties suffered in the course of the conflict.

The death of nine people and injuries caused to scores during the latest gunfight between the two at Aigejang village near Khamenlok on Tuesday night sum up gravity of the situation and the deeply ingrained hatred.

Similar to the use of sophisticated weapons in the gunfight corroborating involvement of Kuki militants and possibly militia members having roots in the neighbouring Myanmar, substantial numbers of the deceased as well as those wounded in the Aigejang clash confirmed to be residents of different parts of the valley areas ring out the message that many youths are drawn to the conflict, unlike in the initial days of the violence when only the locals were involved in launching attacks or defending their turf.

The number of deaths and injuries suffered from gunshots in the latest clash also testify that the turmoil in the state is more than just a communal conflict and is rapidly evolving into a showdown between two armed groups of communities, which, sadly, seems to be missing the attention of the central government.

The centre’s apathy to the situation could be comprehended from lack of initiative to effectively end the mayhem.

With exception of constituting peace committee, ordering judicial enquiry as well as CBI investigation to unearth the root cause of the violence, and assuring generous food grains to the state, those seated in the corridor of power in New Delhi seem unperturbed by the continuous bloodshed in Manipur.

Accepted that endorsing any of the demands placed by the warring communities would generate outright fierce opposition but the central leaders cannot afford to maintain silence when the body counts continue to rise and thousands of families displaced from the ancestral homes are pinning hope on the Union government to deliver justice.

Moreover, with members of the MHA-initiated peace committee exiting from the panel citing one reason or the other, there is remote chance of the committee achieving the task of stabilising the situation as reaching out to the affected communities necessitates proactive involvement of all the stakeholders concerned.

To the central leaders root cause of the conflict might seem connected to the demand for inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India as had been expressed by Union home minister Amit Shah.

However, the warring communities insisting on separate administration, resignation of the incumbent chief minister or imposition of President’s Rule, withdrawal of the suspension of operation agreement with the Kuki militants, prevent influx of Chin-Kuki militants from Myanmar, and updating and implementing National Register of Citizens in Manipur to name a few underscore that the centre shall have to minutely examine the demands and proposals on priority basis.