Manipur a pawn in geopolitical game

Maheshsana Rajkumar *

Today marks the beginning of 16 months of ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Chin ethnic group in Manipur which started on 3 May 2023.

It’s not just a mere clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis but is much bigger than it is thought to be and this can be known from the fact that the clash has been dragging on for more than 16 months and the clash not ending with no indication that it will end with a positive outcome bringing peace to the State of Manipur.

We all know that a big geopolitical game is being played out in Myanmar between US and China engaged through proxy warfare through the Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) of Myanmar and the PDF against the Junta adopted by the two world superpowers who are hell bent in breaking Myanmar into pieces establishing their hegemony with the spillover effect of the war felt in the State of Manipur.

Now Manipur comes in the picture lately in which both the superpowers want to break Manipur besides Myanmar and the recent change of Bangladesh regime is the testimony suiting their much needed requirements in this ongoing conflict.

US wants to carve out a Christian country from the ethnic groups who are followers of Christianity inhabiting in these regions of Southeast Asia and South Asia i.e. (North East Indian States of Manipur and Mizoram, Chin State and parts of Sagaing Region of Myanmar and also making US Naval base in the St Martin Island of Bangladesh and not to forget Chittagong hills tract in Bangladesh are inhabited by the Kukis).

The interesting part is the Kuki think tanks are engaged in talks between these three countries namely India, America and China and also having the support from world Churches and Israel, bargaining and negotiating the term which would benefit them to form their long cherished dream of having their own land or a country of their own inhabited by their 52 Chin-Kuki sub-tribes.

In the political history of Kuki tribes they never went beyond village chieftain level and the State of Mizoram was carved out from Assam State by the Indian Government.

China doesn’t want Christian country coming up in these regions which is a serious threat to their National security. US base in these region will result in nuclear warheads installed targeting the heartland of mainland China.

Arakan Army is fighting with the junta for the last battle to control Sittwe and when it’s done they are going to announce their own independent Nation. Just a couple of days ago MNDAA (mainly Han Chinese ethnic), one of the groups to form three brotherhood alliance in the northern Shan State after wresting control of the region from Junta had officially declared Chinese as the official language of the controlled town of Lashio.

Is the silence maintained by PM Modi on Manipur issue the result of the fear of Biden administration who are not happy when India supported Russia against Ukraine war earlier ?

India knows very well without US support it’s very hard to defend her territory from the future Chinese aggression. Just recently India changed their stance and PM Modi visited Ukraine showing support to the Ukrainian. The dynamics of geopolitics keeps changing as it’s the true nature of any Nation in the world.

The big question is what is the future of our beloved State of Manipur if it breaks which God forbid it doesn’t happen ? How peace will achieve in Manipur when the world superpowers are involved destabilising the stability of these region engaging in war conflict through proxy means ?

If the hands of US and China threaten to break Manipur than it’s the responsibility of Indian Government to act tough and annex Kabaw valley which is 2 and half times size of Greater Imphal and settled Meitei people and co-inhabit with Shanni (Tai/Shan) ethnic our own brethren by repeating the history.

It was in end 1800s Chin tribesmen drove out the Shanni people from Kabaw Valley and before Kabaw valley was transferred to Myanmar on 9 January 1834, Meiteis and Shanni people co-inhabited Kabaw valley from time immemorial and the right time has come to regain our ancestral lost territory which is a dream of every proud Meitei people.

Long live Manipur.