Let there be transparency
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 13, 2024 -

IT may sound pedagogical.

But various case studies have shown that speed, accuracy and consistency are the three key elements to keep in mind while responding to a crisis, and a leader’s response and actions based on these three elements often play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the crisis.

While prompt response help in correcting the narrative surrounding the crisis, accuracy and consistency in communication is vital as any vagueness may inadvertently project an intent to conceal information.

We are alluding to these basics of crisis management, which, of course, are very much part of classroom teaching, in the light of some aberrations that have been seen in the past as well as in the present when elected representatives in the crisis-torn Manipur enthusiastically spoke more than necessary.

The latest case in point is the objection raised by Kuki-Chin organisations like Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) to the claim made by chief minister N Biren Singh regarding initiation of peace talks to resolve the over 14 months long ethnic conflict between the Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities.

A day after the chief minister told a group of media persons that talks between the two warring communities have already started under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah and peace has begun to return in the strife-torn state, KIM as well as KSO on Thursday unequivocally denied having knowledge about any such peace talks and demanded the chief minister to disclose the precise details of the organisations or individuals involved in the peace negotiation.

We are not judging the wisdom of the chief minister nor questioning the veracity of his claim, but if the peace negotiation had indeed been already started, then there is weightage in the demand for revealing details of the peace negotiation process and the individuals or organisations representing not just from the side of Kuki-Chin community but also from the Meetei community.

Leaving aside the question of whether the chief minister was repeating only what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said in the Rajya Sabha some days back about the "government continuously making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur" and "the Centre and the state government are in talks with everybody concerned to resolve the issues", which is more likely; there had also been an instance in the past when the chief minister had no reply to the denial made by the estranged 10 Kuki-Chin MLAs to his claim of keeping in regular touch with them.

In an interview given to Hindustan Times on August 24, 2023, chief minister Biren, who was in the national capital then to meet Union home minister Amit Shah, had been quoted saying, "I have told the MLAs that I will provide them with security and that we must work together to restore normalcy".

However, a day after the report of the interview was published, the 10 Kuki-Chin denied the claim by issuing a joint statement, clarifying "we have not been in touch with CM N Biren Singh since the outbreak of the communal violence in May 2023."

The joint statement of the 10 Kuki-Chin MLAs had also made it clear, "At this politically critically juncture, we do not have any intention to communicate with CM Biren Singh" and asserted that CM Biren’s claim of communicating with them may be a ploy to sow seeds of mistrust and disunity between the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs and their people.

We have harkened back to this incident to drive home the point even if speed, accuracy and consistency are three key elements for crisis management and a leader’s response and actions based on these three elements play a pivotal in resolving the crisis, transparency of the entire process is more paramount than anything else for building trust, promoting openness and enhancing understanding between the parties in conflict.