Let's forgive and rebuild bonds: RK Sanayaima
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 09 2023: Meetei/Meitei and Kuki are communities who will con-tinue to live together into the future.

As such, it is important to forgive each other's mis-givings and work together to re-establish the close bonds, said social activist RK Sanayaima alias Meghen, while assuring to extend all possible help in this regard.

Addressing a press meet held at Sagolband on Tuesday, San-ayaima described as extremely unfortunate to witness the eth-nic clashes between the Kuki and the Meetei communities.

Many have lost their lives in the violence and thousands injured and displaced, while churches and temples have been burned down, he said and conveyed his condolences to all those affected by the violence.

The ethnic clashes that began on May 3 were due to the fault of the authority concerned.

The country's vice president is a VVIP and as such, it is ques-tionable how permission for a rally was given out on the day of his visit.

Another question is whether there was no intelli-gence input of the rally becom-ing violent.

If there was none, then the intelligence could be regarded to have failed.

It is un-certain how long will it take for the state to return to normalcy considering the clashes were in-fluenced by diverse sentiments, he remarked.

Sanayaima continued that there is a need to discuss the root cause of the violence.

Although it is inevitable for both sides to try to blame each other, it would not be wrong to consider the possibility of some people in-tentional sowing discord be-tween the two communities.

The Kukis have alleged that the first incident of houses being burned and firing of guns were carried out by Meetei/Meitei in Kangvai.

This should be inves-tigated to prevent the spread of rumours, which is then being used by unscrupulous person(s) to arouse sentiments and ensure it reaches violent and murderous levels, he said.

Furthermore, Kukis and other groups identifying as tribal often have disagreements on political issues.

This often leads to the Ku-kis demanding their own state or a territorial council demand.

Amid this, the Meetei/Meitei, who are being compacted into the small valley, are demanding ST status exclusively to ensure the survival of the indigenous community.

The Joint Coor-dinating Committee on Tribal Rights has been opposing this demand.

All of these are bound to affect the harmony of all con-cerned in the future, he said.

Sanayaima continued: "Ac-cording to history, Meetei/ Meitei is not a community or group which has worked under one exclusive ideology.

It is a community which had taken the biggest role and made the biggest sacrifice in building up Manipur.

Meetei/Meitei does not have the narrow-mindset that their community should be only community to live.

The community's focus is how to best live together with one an-other in harmony.

However, as the Meetei/Meitei continues to be cornered, the community had to take a decision to ensure its survival.

"According to the Indian Constitution, every community has the right to make a demand in consideration of its inconve-niences.

It would be wrong to dictate that some have this right and others do not.

It is hundred percent correct that despite having the requisite laws, the Meetei/Meitei have been unable to protect themselves or their land, especially from the influx of outsiders with the ILP seem-ingly in a trial period.

If, instead of searching fora solution to this issue, the argument is on whose right it is and is not, a conflict is bound to happen.

In addition, an amicable solution very much depends on political will," he elaborated.

Stating that failing to find an inclusive solution and only car-ing out about our own interests will never put an end to the vi-olence but lead to more violence in the future, Sanayaima stressed the need for joint deliberation of all stakeholders concerned to come up with a solution for a united and harmonious Mani-pur.

Communities must respect one another and the interdepen-dency, for which a government system with autonomy at all level is required.

Failure to do so will only hinder the harmo-nious atmosphere, he said, while urging all communities to keep aside all self-vested and narrow interests and instead tiy to live together with one another in harmony and peace.

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