Pambei-led UHLF greets people on 60th raising day
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 28 2024:

Contd from previous issue

While stressing the need for indepth discussion on the prevailing situation in Manipur including nature of ongoing war and steps to be taken based on experience gained from historical events, the annual statement of the Central Committee of Pambei-led UNLF called the crisis in Manipur since May 3, 2023 an ethnic conflict between Kuki-Zo and the Meetei communities but not a real conflict.

In complete contrast, the conflict is between those supporting the 'Idea of Manipur' and secessionists who want to break apart Manipur.

This conflict highlights confusing nature of the long unresolved political and geopolitics issues of the region while the enemies are taking absolute benefits from the prevailing condition.

As result of this, the condition for maintaining good relation with friendly revolutionaries has been distorted as also the relation between the enemies with the society and administration.

Generally accepted antagonistic political contradiction is now being converted into non-antagonistic because some armed groups of WE-SEA have reached under -standing with New Delhi while dialogues with some groups are undergoing currently.

Non-antagonistic contradiction like friendly-relation and harmony among co-existant communities have become antagonistic contradictions.What the people of the region need to re-look and think deeply is the replacement of revolutionary movement by the quest for strengthening ethnic identities, territorial control and cultural economy thereby creating deep division among communities inhabiting in Manipur.

In the attempt to understand root cause of the present conflict and its impact, four factors need to be looked into carefully.

The present conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meetei communities created an issue of mass abandonment and killings.

The conflict also cut off friendly relation among ethnic groups of Manipur and brought suffering upon the people.

Condition of the people belonging to Kuki-Zo community worsened after their leaders misled them and raised the demand for autonomy, separate administration or separate state.

Manipur is a land inhabited by different communities broadly classified into Meeteis, Nagas and Kukis having different culture, language and religion and all these three major communities have been living in harmony since early period.

Manipur's location in the far corner of the north east of India bordering Myanmar makes the present conflict a difficult one to resolve and is only worsening owing to relation between ethnic groups residing on both sides of India-Myanmar border and activities of revolutionary groups across the border on either side.

In view of the likely impact Kuki-Zo people settling on both sides of the border would pose to the country, Government of India spread weapons of its own - armed forces, in the border region and enhanced security along the international border.

Manipur is not only an important part of India's 'Act East Policy' but also serves as a bridge for improving its economic and cultural ties with countries of South East Asia.

Nevertheless, unresolved ethnic contradictions create unrest situation in the region consequently creating hurdles in fostering healthy relation among neighbouring countries and economic development.

At this juncture, the path for resolution to the conflict could be channelized through the 'Idea of Manipur' evolved with historical legacy.

At the time India became an independent country in 1947, Manipur too was a sovereign nation with its own democratic government formed by different communities inhabiting in the land.

However, Manipur was merged to the Indian Union in 1949 through the controversial Manipur Merger Agreement and the people of Manipur are still remorse for India's misdeed and dishonoured acts.

For the Meeteis who shouldered the prime responsibility in developing the independent Manipur, the merger to India was considered as the loss of sovereignty for Manipur in its history while the merger gave huge impact to the hill people on their norms of social administration.

The Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 was a significant landmark legal document for the sovereign and democratic Manipur emerged at the fag end of British colonialism in India.

This Act came in effect from January, 1948 and it was a progressive Constitution giving equal entitled righs to people of both the hills and valley of Manipur.

As per the Act, the then king was made ceremonial head while people handed over executive power through election to the National Assembly.

One unique feature of the Act was establishment of a democratic government through universal adult franchise in 1948 and Manipur becoming the first sovereign nation in Southeast Asia to have constitutional governance while India conducted its first general election three years later in 1951.The National Assembly constituted through universal adult frachise comprised representatives from both the hills and valley of Manipur.

Accordingly, the National Assembly (state assembly) and democratic government became the collective voice for the people both hills and valley of Manipur.

(To be Contd) .

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