STDCM traces genesis of current crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 13 2023:
While praying for re-turn of normalcy in the state at the earliest, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) said genesis of the present crisis need to be unearthed while striving for peace and normalcy.
According to a statement of STDCM, response by Meetei led to the present unrest af-ter Kuki burnt down Meetei villages in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Moreh in Tengnoupal district while taking advantage of Tribal Solidarity March organised by ATSUM on May 3.Though the Tribal Solidarity March culminated peacefully in the districts dominated by Naga, the rally in Kuki dom-inated districts like Chura-chandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal was joined by armed So0 militants and start-ed targeting Meetei people and torching Meetei villages in the three districts.
As news of the attack spread through social media in rapid pace, Meetei youth responded and attacked Kuki villages in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts thereby resulting in a fierce clash be-tween the two communities, STDCM recounted.
According to the STDCM, the violent clash between the Meetei and Kuki spread far and wide but Naga dominated areas in the state remains un-affected and peaceful till date.
This shows that the ongoing unrest is nothing to do with ST status demand of the Meetei/ Meitei but fallout of state gov-ernment's crackdown against drug trade, poppy cultivation and eviction of encroachers from reserved and protected forest.
The collective move by Meetei and Naga for NRC exercise to detect and deport illegal immigrants was another reason for the present unrest situation, STDCM said, adding that the conflict should in no way be linked with the de-mand for ST status of Meetei/ Meitei.
The STDCM further said the demand for ST status of Meetei/Meitei relates with Constitutional provision for life and death of the commu-nity and other communities must not threaten govern-ment by opposing the de-mand as there is no way the demand could be suppressed by mounting pressure.
It also said the demand should be discussed on merit and gov-ernment of India has concrete modality for inclusion of a community in ST list of the Constitution.
Any community fulfilling criteria has to be in-cluded in the ST list, STDCM elaborated, adding that the Meetei/Meitei being indige-nous people has constitutional rights to be to ST.
The STDCM also said that all the ethnic communities of Manipur will have the same status and live together with harmony when the Meetei/Meitei becomes ST .