Peace building seminar held
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, May 16 2012: "To maintain and strengthen peace and harmony in society is also the responsibility of all citizens mainly think-tank, scholars, religious leaders, and public figures" .

This was stated in the keynote address given by Dr.Paochunbou at the inaugural function of "3 Days Training cum Workshop on Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in Manipur" on Wednesday at St.

Paul Retreat Centre, Mantripukhri, Imphal, organised by Coalition of North East India, Manipur chapter.

The function was attended by Dr.Ratankumar Singh, minister of works and Transport, Rev.Dominic Lumon, DD, Archbishop of Imphal and Md.Amin Shah, MLA as the chief guest, president and the guest of honor respectively.

The first priority area to maintain communal harmony is to promote understanding amongst the different community leaders, said Dr.Paochunbou.

He said that there is a large reservoir of goodwill, understanding and amity amongst the different ethnic communities, and we must try to enlarge and deepen this precious reservoir which the state government alone cannot accomplish.

To maintain and strengthen peace and harmony in society is also the responsibility of all citizens mainly think-tank, scholars, religious leaders and public figures, he added.

He said that our state Manipur lacks community character and there is heterogeneous mass of many ethnic groups with conflicting interests in this insurgent hit state and the divisive character is further accentuated due to social factors like religion, caste system, culture and custom.

The historical facts speak that religion has been one of the major causes of the social tensions and misunderstandings between the valley based dominant community and the tribals in the hill areas and too many ethnic tribes, sub-tribes and caste-systems have combined to pose a grave threat to social harmony, said Dr.Paochunbou.

"Removal of inequalities of status, facility and opportunity becomes one of the hardest measures in the present trend in Manipur.

One of the by-products of unemployment is also an increase in conflict.

There are immense potential and natural resources in all hill areas of Manipur but there is no avenue to explore the inexhaustible wealth in the absence of connectivity.

We can get manpower, technology, and economic advantages if road connectivity is made possible in all hill areas.

The root cause or proximate cause of conflict is disparity between hills and valley in all developmental initiatives.

It is often said that to end conflict, one must address its root cause.

These included such things as poverty, prejudice, inequality of opportunity, political exclusion, political disparity and other forms of injustice.

The government is to be sensitive to local needs and realities", said Dr.Paochunbou.

He stated that conflict is often like a fire, the longer it goes on, the bigger it gets and the harder it is to extinguish; and it will be far easier to deal with conflict effectively if mechanisms already accepted by all parties are in place to deal with conflict or impasse in negotiation.

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