Talks the only way forward to bring normalcy to Manipur; not through piece-meal half measures

Ngaranmi Shimray *

The idea for a special administrative zone for Moreh alone is specious; focus on the whole State returning to normalcy not just an isolated pocket

A proposition under the title “From cosmopolitan hub to fractured community: The fight for Moreh’s soul” was made in The Sangai Express in its January 14th 2024 news publication. The strategic importance of Moreh in terms of commercial activities and its connection to Act East Policy, trans-Asian highway, trans-Asian railway and special economic zone was stressed.

A contention was made for restoration of the multi-ethnic character of Moreh Town under a special administrative zone covering the Meitei village of Kwatha. It went on to suggest a hybrid administration like the Delhi Cantonment Board aimed at return of normalcy for Moreh Town.

Historical references were made about Tamu and Moreh and how the people that settled in Moreh included Tamils, Punjabis, Tangkhuls, Kukis, Meiteis, Meitei Pangals, Marings, Lamkangs and Moyons to show that it was truly a cosmopolitan settlement before the Naga-Kuki ethnic conflict in 1990s and the current ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities.

The idea has been foisted by All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMU-CO), Dr RK Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS) and the Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) in the midst of an ongoing war of attrition paralysing the State with occasional casualties.

The proposal for a special administrative zone for Moreh is akin to treating a symptom without dealing with the root cause of the disease. To say the least, the proposal for Moreh appears to be driven by a selfish motive as the most affected people on account of closure of cross border busi- ness through Moreh and Tamu is the Meitei community.

The proposition for restoration of the multi-ethnic character of Moreh Town is specious and raises a few thoughts for discussion and consideration. Why is only Moreh prioritised for such special consideration and treatment when the problem for both displaced communities is not confined to Moreh Town alone.

The displayed people are also from the periphery of Imphal valley, Churachand-pur, Kangpokpi and Imphal city, the capital city of Manipur State. While the cancer resides deep inside the body, the proposed treatment is to cut off a lump while the disease remains and fester deep within the body and will ultimately kill the patient one day.

Even to this day the Meitei community cannot venture beyond the Imphal valley and the Kuki-Zo people cannot return to the State capital. Both affected parties are not able to return to their last place of residence, yet no frontal organisations of both communities have taken any initiative to restore peace and harmony by initiating talks.

It has been eight months since conflict began and not a single Peace Committee meeting has been held. There is no news of the CM meeting the ten Kuki-Zo MLAs camping outside Imphal valley till date. No confidence building exercise has taken place between the two estranged communities.

If rumours are to be believed the responsibility of dealing with the problems of Manipur has been divided between the Centre and the State Government with the Centre taking the responsibility of talking to the Kuki-Zo leaders, while the State Govt deals with the law and order issues and relief measures.

Sharing of responsibilities between Centre and the State Government may sound tactical theoretically, but on the ground there has to be a change of heart of the people, social and political leadership, and exchange of views through dialogue and confidence building exercises which no one is doing. Solution cannot be parachuted down without ground work. The longer the estrangement continues, hearts will har-den and bitterness will increase.

Currently, it would appear that the theme of engagement for both warring communities after eight months of conflict still continues to be “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. In the midst of an ongoing conflict, without tackling the problem for restoration of normalcy to the entire State, the idea floated only for Moreh is specious and such piece-meal approach only goes to confirm the parochial attitude of the valley CSOs and State’s leadership.

Imphal has the most cosmopolitan features in the State with a number of different communities of the country residing in the capital city much more than Moreh, but restoration of normalcy in Imphal city which would mean the return of Kuki-Zo community is not even under consideration.

It may be contentious about the actual period when Kukis came to Manipur, but the fact remains that the earlier Kukis have settled down in certain areas in the State for many years. The pertinent question is how large is their territory in the hill areas of Manipur and in this question lies the potential of widening the chasm between the Nagas and Kukis. Manipur cannot be re-built or made a truly inclusive society without the presence of Kuki-Zo community in the capital city of Imphal and the inter-mingling of different communities across the State.

Thoughts of exclusiveness should be abandoned and measures for inclusive-ness should be promoted. The extended logic is that all displaced persons have a right to return to their last place of residence, if they so wish, and not only for the residents of Moreh Town but for all displaced persons across the State. It needs to be clear that the resolution of the ongoing conflict can be done only through talks and not in a manner that benefits only one of the affected communities.

The State budget session will be taking place in a month or two, but no efforts and arrangements have been made to ensure that the ten MLAs can return and stay safely in Imphal without CSOs and mobs protesting and attacking them.

The financial year is ending in March 2024 and it is to be seen how various schemes, programmes and projects of the Government will be implemented in the ground when officials of the Meitei community cannot venture into the hill districts and Kuki-Zo officials cannot come to Imphal, the administrative capital of the State.

Under these circumstances the situation in March 2024 will be ripe for scams. Further, Parliamentary elections is scheduled in a few months time and the deployment of polling staff and security across the State will be a nightmare without peace being restored. Yet, the efforts of some person and organisations the priority is only Moreh and not the entire State. As for the State Government role in bringing about normalcy in the State is concerned, the less said the better, as it lies in deep slumber.

The primary purpose of this article is to state that there cannot be piece-meal approach for restoration of peace in isolated pockets. It has to be tackled in a wholesome manner. Piece-meal approach only exposes the lack of statesmanship of the leaders in the State.

Confidence building exercise involving various CSOs and religious organisations has to be initiated without delay to bring about normalcy before the budget session, Parliamentary elections and closing of the financial year.