One year of crisis, and what next ?
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 03, 2024 -

CREATING a history of a sort which none could be proud of and would be best to obliterate from the memory of everyone, the ethnic conflict between the Meetei and Kuki-Chin communities in Manipur has completed one year exactly.

The conflict that broke out on May 3,2023 after people of Kuki-Chin community clashed with the Meetei/Meitei, aftermath a court's order over the latter's demand for recognition as scheduled tribe (ST), has led to loss of hundreds of precious human lives and displacement of thousands of families on both sides of the clash divide, forcing them to seek shelter in relief camps set up across the length and breadth of the state, not to speak of the difficulties caused to people of other communities who, despite repeated provocations, have steadfastly remained neutral from taking side in the conflict.

Regardless of the assurances given by the governments, both at the centre and in the state, which are helmed by the Bharatiya janata Party (BJP) of restoring peace and normalcy, there has been no sign of resolving the conflict anytime soon, as the government would like the people to believe. With both the warring communities showing no relent, there has been no let-up in the senseless violence of targeting each other.

Deployment of numerous companies of central security forces to assist in maintaining law and order in the state has also been of not much help as they have not been given the order from their higher-ups to act decisively.

This begs the question of whether the government of India has any hidden agenda behind allowing the ethnic conflict to go on for so long. It has been the univocal opinion of many experts that the conflict could have been stopped within days of its outbreak if the government of India had been sincere enough to act in time.

So, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has neither made any substantial comments on the issue that has burned Manipur nor visited the strife-torn state to meet its suffering people even for once till date, unabashedly claimed that "because of the timely intervention of the government of India and efforts made by the government of Manipur, there has been a marked improvement in the situation of the state," none has been left in doubt about the 'unwillingness' of the government of India to resolve the prolonged ethnic conflict and restore peace in Manipur.

As we have stated through this column earlier, from committing acts of savagery of the most heinous kind that would put even the most harden criminals to shame to the most cherishing tales of human fortitude in the face of danger that could inspire many people; and from some unscrupulous elements taking undue advantage of the situation to the elected representatives abdicating their duties and responsibilities of protecting the innocent people and their properties, the ongoing conflict has seen it all.

Yet, it appears that these are not going to be the end. With both the warring groups not ready to budge from their respective position, the conflict has only escalated with armed Kuki-Chin militants starting to target not just the national infrastructure but also the central security personnel.

Apart from the earlier efforts made to contaminate rivers and other water bodies by spilling crude oil from a defunct power station; firing attack on oil and gas tankers along the national highway, blasting of vital bridge and power transmission lines have become frequent of late.

What started off as a protest march against the demand of one community for constitutional safeguard to ensure its survival in the changing demographics has today turned into a full-blown war against the very idea of Manipur as a home to people of different communities.

Even after completion of one year, no one knows when the conflict will be resolved, or whether it will be ever resolved.

With little to expect from the political party in power, which is more concerned about saving its reputation, nor from political parties in the opposition, which look at the conflict as an opportunity to topple the government, it's time for the suffering people to think over what kind of future they would like to bequeath to their children and say enough is enough to the senseless violence that is threatening to uproot an entire generation, if not more.