Navigating the Crisis: The Role of (Confidence Building Measures) CBMs

Tondonba Nepram *

The Manipur Crisis which is understood to have started on May 3rd, 2023 is closing on two years with no end in sight. The current situation is that of an impasse grey zone that can neither be termed as peace nor conflict. Whether this may be calm before the storm or a smothering flame about to out, only time will tell.

However, the fact remains that there is a high degree of tension, mistrust, misunderstanding, demonization of one community by the other.

CBMs can be an effective tool in building the most necessary trust, improving relationships, humanize the other, signal positive intentions and commitment to avoid escalations. CBMs can be helpful in preparing and deepening the peace process. CBMs however are not to be underestimated as they are but the means and not and end in themselves.

While there is no widely accepted definition of CBMs and their application are mostly shown to be applied in military domain more than others, CBMs can be understood to be unilateral, bilateral or multilateral actions or procedures undertaken in all phases of a conflict cycle to prevent hostilities, to prevent escalation, re-escalation and build trust among the conflicting parties to pave way for peaceful conflict resolution.

A stated above, CBMs alone will not resolve a conflict as they do not address the root causes of the conflict rather, they focus on the situations created by the conflict, on reducing tensions, to build working trust. As such they are meant to work in unison with other conflict resolution mechanisms.

CBMs can be implemented in all phases of a peace process i.e. before, during and after the peace process to prevent escalation or re-escalation; to initiate and deepen negotiation; to consolidate the process and its outcomes.

In the case of Manipur, as a peace process is in the rudimentary stage, all sides including but not exclusively the Meiteis and Kukis can and should aim at building trust as a certain level of trust is necessary for negotiations to be fruitful.

CBMs in their entirety can help to set the stage for parties to seriously consider negotiations. Here, the role of CSOs of both parties, neutral parties, community leaders, spiritual and religious leaders and also the government both state and central among others in building the much necessary trust and humanizing the other community by the other needs more attention.

While the CSOs have yet to show definite interest in such measures, there have been many calls or appeals to the government for implementing CBMs by select individuals. One must bear in mind that dialogue and negotiations are the only way forward to build a lasting peace. The very action of both parties sitting down together and giving constructive opinions will give way to collaborative efforts.

CBMs working towards building trust and at the same time conflict resolution mechanisms addressing the root causes of the conflict without neglecting historical grievances and sentiments of either community is essential for building long term peace. Inclusive CBMs will empower both communities by involving them directly in peace building and conflict resolution process.

Some initiatives from the state as well as central government such as setting up of Rumour Free Number, Forum for Restoration of Peace, disarmaments, opening up highways to promote cross-movement, attempts at peace talks all have been met with very limited success. CBMs are to be tailormade for the situation it has to be applied in and it must be understood that it is not a one size fits all ordeal.

Challenges such as over-polarisation of either community against the other, disunity of CSOs in representing their communities, etc. are some of the barriers to CBMs which needs to be overcome. And even if these challenges were to be overcome and proper and formal CBMs were implemented, proper care must be taken so that Confidence Building Measures do not turn into Confidence Breaking Measures.

Lack of commitment to CBMs and using CBMs as stalling techniques are probable issues. Having said all this our objective at hand must be to bring peaceful conflict resolution and CBMs if given the chance to can help in attaining this objective. Building trust is crucial and it starts with every single one of us.