Seminar : Roots Of Conflict Resolution In Manipur :: A report
- Part 2 -

H. Sukhdeba / Homen Thangjam / Aheibam Koireng *

Seminar : Roots Of Conflict Resolution In Manipur at IGNTU Regional Campus, Manipur on April 8– 9, 2015

Two day National Seminar
ROOTS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN MANIPUR: CLAIMS AND COUNTER CLAIMS
Organised by
Department of Social Work,
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU),
Regional Campus, Manipur
Date: April 8– 9, 2015 : Venue: AMITY Hall,
IGNTU Regional Campus, Manipur

PROCCEDINGS OF THE SEMINAR

Retd. Col. T. Hemo Singh speaking as a Resource Person shared that after the end of the Second World War, the Indo-Myanmar region became a hotspot of conflict. Political factor of conflict is the manner in which Manipur became a part of India. Social cause of conflict is the diverse social groups or ethnic groups, whose needs have increased over time. The next factor is the religious fundamentalism. Self declared independent movement is another factor.

According to him solution lies in dialogue amongst various stakeholders. But first of all, we have to understand whether it is a political problem or a politico-military problem, and then accordingly devise the method of solving. He emphasized that conflict intervention, which is practice in many parts of the world must be adopted in Manipur. It not only demands intervention of the State but also intervention by the civil society bodies such as women bodies.

The second session of the Seminar, titled, "Political Economy of Conflict Situation", was chaired by Prof. N Pramod, LMS Law College, Imphal. Four resource persons presented papers in the session.

Jiten Yumnam, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Imphal spoke on the topic, "Development Injustice and Political Conflict in Manipur". Conflict shapes people's civilization. Conflict originates from domination and exploitation. In Manipur there are the phenomena of right to self-determination. Numerous emergency laws prevail in Manipur and heighten the conflict situation. Political rights and human rights violations are common phenomenon. Prolonged reliance on military violence has affected not only physically but also affected development pattern.

Contemporary model of development such as Look East Policy and attempts to join with South Asia is incompatible with the community interest. Such pattern is mostly about profit. Further promotion of large dams and other development projects affect the rights of the indigenous people. Examples include Loktak Hydel Project, Tipaimukh Dam, etc. these projects are insensitive to the local community. This results in fanning dissent and at times pushing the people to take up arms.

Oil exploration in Manipur is another example how large project has started conflict amongst various layers of the people. The exploration happened in a very silent and arbitrary manner, meaning to say that the people of Manipur were totally taken by surprise. According to him, even the military personnel were involved in making the project work. Series of policies are lined up in Manipur such as the Manipur Tourism Act, which is part of the neoliberal programme of India. Concern is Manipur's land is going to be affected and resources diminish.

According to him, it is important to visualize how conflict is generated not purely by armed movement for self-determination and sovereignty but by such developmentalism. Further, developments are happening in Manipur through funding from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. In this endeavor, we find the involvement of the military-corporate nexus, which ultimately leads to more militarization.

He concluded by sharing that rights of the indigenous people over land and resources must be respected so that cycle of violence can be ended.

A. Mobi, Editor Guilds Manipur, also spoke as a Resource Person. In Manipur there are various types of conflict and most important is the political type including movement for sovereignty, secession and revolution, etc. In any type of conflict everyone suffers especially the economy. In economic terms, Manipur witnessed the Nupilan, unavailability of food grain, etc. According to him, even in times when new and advanced technology for agriculture is available, Manipur remains dependent to India for food grains. At the same time, the schemes fail to reach the common people. This illustrates failure of policy on the part of the Government. According to him, this happens on account of siphoning off by the officials but blames the insurgents. These are lootable items. Non-lootable items include mineral wealth.

He concluded by stating that in a conflict situation, common people are the most affected group. Thus, one needs to spread awareness to the people about how times are changing and in what situation the Manipuri society is caught in a new wind of development blowing in to Manipur in the form of for example, the coming in of Look East Policy. The onus of spreading such knowledge lies with the students who are the future pillar of the society.

Dr. B. Deben Sharma, Village Voluntary Development, Ukhrul, as a Resource Person presented a paper entitled, "Political economy of conflict situation: Impacts and responses". Speaking on political economy, he stated that political economy is the linkages between politics and economy in a nation-state. Failure is Manipur is that we have not captured the underlying issues in a holistic manner.

One approach to political economy is rational choice and the other is the power approach. According to him, recent abolition of Planning Commission and replacing it with NITI, which was undertaken by managerial experts instead by the representatives of the people, is the best example of power approach. Another example is the new Land Acquisition Act, which abolishes the indirect cost of Government acquiring the land. None has the right to complain. In this type of political economy of India, the country is not alone but works in tandem with developed countries where the laws are shaped by the private companies.

In today's globalized world the state closely works with the corporations for their own interests. The Indian state working for the welfare of the people has undergone transformation all of a sudden. Even in the case of Manipur, private sector has made inroad in the health and education sector. This is amidst the perception that no development could occur in Manipur on account of conflict.

He cited the example of the Rava tribe how they lost control over their own land and forest to the colonial British. From the 1960s after India became independent, the elites exploited the Rava forest to fund elections. But the Ravas were declared as criminals and some became rich. In 2010, Supreme Court banned lumbering as a result of which the Ravas became paupers. When Ravas legally challenged the verdict, we find the enactment of the new Forest Act, which allows tribal to dwell in the forest.

Speaking on culture, he shared that conflict in the post-colonial period is on account of culture. On one hand, affinity with Hindu culture is partly responsible for merger with India. But there is also the side of Manipur, the Sanamahi side, which is in contradiction with Hindu culture. As a result, there is conflict in Manipur. Understanding, this can help in resolving conflict in Manipur. Political economy also brings in another trajectory known as development. In the Manipur context, it stands for limited progress that makes the mind peaceful. However, it carries a different connotation that of limitless acquisition.

Dr. Homen Thangjam, while sharing his thought as Resource Person had dwelled on what exactly the seminar wants to deal with in this session, that is, the political economy of conflict situation. Further he went on to illustrate the levels of players that the ongoing conflict situation had produced other than the conflicting parties and who had benefitted the most from it. In his opinion, policy makers and bureaucrats had also benefitted from the conflict by way of receiving kickbacks and siphoning of resources in the name of dealing with conflict.

Civil society functionaries also have benefitted as associating with it has enhanced their status. The same layers of the society (including the teachers) are the ones who have really benefited the most out of the conflict situation. As a result none wants to end the prevailing armed-conflict in Manipur. According to him, there is also the silent understanding that one can buy peace in Manipur. This phenomenon indicates the kind of political economy that the conflict situation has generated and vice versa.

He was also of the opinion that many tribal elites who portray themselves as the protagonist of upholding customary laws and traditional governance were actually found to be ignorant of their age-old value system and traditional law except their interest and involvement in electing or appointing village chief and land ownership rights.

Further, he stated that one has to work towards resolving the conflict as it has taken away a large amount of human and material toll. Working towards a solution ultimately entails a political economy approach that can largely fulfill one's (whether the armed group's or that of the particular community) demand for autonomy. Ultimately, the "autonomy" arrangement will certainly involve sharing of resources in the most tangible form.

However, one has to be wary about the changed economic condition the whole world is caught in. Whether the community owns the land or resources or whether the Government of Mnipur has the ownership, ultimately it is the Union of India in cahoot with MNCs that will ultimately have a final sy in the exploitation of resources in Manipur. Thus, any alternative arrangement with any community of a particular armed group should be mindful about such a situation.