Two years of conflict, no signs of resolution
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 03, 2025 -

Even as the Centre is reportedly preparing to facilitate another round of meeting between Meetei and Kuki civil society organisations in New Delhi in an effort to resolve the ethnic violence in the state which has claimed more than 250 lives, including women and children, and rendered an estimated 60,000 homeless, it seems that the dialogue process wouldn't be leading to any tangible solution if one takes note of the fact that the communities in conflict aren't ready to relent from their respective tough stand.

Indeed, cessation of acts of violence after the President's Rule and surrender of over 2000 unauthorised firearms by Meetei groups in compliance with the Governor of Manipur's clarion call to hand over weapons in possession of the civilians and assurance of clemency, made the general population, the violence-affected families in particular, to believe that the situation would soon return to normalcy.

The cessation in hostility between the two communities during the PR days could be construed as the warring communities unwilling to provoke the central government, which is currently helming the state's affairs through the Raj Bhavan.

Such relative calm in the strife-torn state also underscores that one of the communities is fully aware about the centre keeping a close tab on occurrence of violent incidents and the consequences in case of defying the centre but is showing no urgency in surrendering the weapons.

However, with exception of absence of gunfights in the periphery villages, which used to witness attacks almost every day, tension remains high across the state, the displaced families are still languishing in relief camps or temporary shelters, and the highways aren't safe for travelling by people on both sides of the conflict divide.

Contrary to the Meetei CSOs demanding that the central government facilitate undisrupted movement on the highways, among other proposals aimed at restoring normalcy, Kuki organisations have been insisting that without realising their demand for separate administration the Meeteis wouldn't be allowed to set foot in Kuki-populated areas, thereby contributing to prolonging of the conflict situation and stalling the process for reconciliation being initiated by the centre.

On the other-hand, in sharp contrast to the expectations among the masses that imposition of the President's Rule would see the centre expediting the peace process, Meetei and Kuki civil society organisations are preparing to observe the second year of the May 3, 2023 violence on divergent themes and draw attention of the centre on the existing unrest situation.

As such, prior to holding the fresh round of talks, it is proposed that the Ministry of Home Affairs minutely examine which group is hesitating to reciprocate positively to the centre's initiative to foster camaraderie among the Meetei and Kuki communities.

It is equally important that the centre accord importance to disarming armed groups of both the communities rather than intensifying search operations in the valley for the simple reason that weapons were looted from police armouries in the valley districts as well as in Kuki-dominated hill areas.

Accepted that broadening the process of dialogue would help in expeditious materialisation of the goal of restoring lasting peace in Manipur, the ministry of home affairs cannot ignore the importance of either disarming the Kuki groups or confining cadres of outfits bound.