MIYC accuses centre of plotting division of state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 16 2024: Strongly condemning alleged intention of the central government to balkanise the state on ethnic lines, Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has cautioned that any attempt to alter the territorial boundary of Manipur, which has rich history spanning over two millennia, would be violation of both domestic and international law.

In a statement, MIYC pointed out that centuries, Manipur has existed as an independent nation with well-defined borders, a rich cultural heritage, and a unified people.

As such, recent political manoeuvers, specifically invocation of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution to modify state's boundaries along ethnic lines - have raised concern among the people, it stated.

According to the MIYC, such actions tantamount to infringing on the historic rights of the people of Manipur and violating the principles of international law, including the Uti Possidetis Juris doctrine.

"This doctrine mandates that the territorial boundaries of a state at the time of independence should remain unchanged".

It stressed that Manipur's territorial integrity has been preserved through centuries of diplomacy, warfare, and statehood, dating back to the 1st Century AD.

Colonial occupation by the British did not erase the sovereignty of the Manipuri people, and historical documents, such as the Henry Yule Map of 1500 AD and the Surveyor General of India's Map of 1984, serve as irrefutable evidence of the state's longstanding boundaries.

When India gained independence from the British rule in 1947, the principle of Uti Possidetis Juris automatically applied to Manipur.

The MIYC contended that this principle is recognised by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and has been upheld in numerous international border disputes.

As such, Manipur's borders, which were established before its disputed annexation by India in 1949, remain inviolable.

The MIYC also pointed out that invoking Article 3 of the Indian Constitution to redraw Manipur's boundaries would not be legally applicable, as the state's annexation in 1949 occurred under controversial circumstances.

The Central government's plan to divide the state, based on demands from non-state actors and illegal immigrants, violates not only Indian legal frameworks but also international obligations under the United Nations Charter.

MIYC referred to past ICJ rulings, such as the "Libya-Chad Case" and the "El Salvador-Honduras Case," where the principle of boundary stability was upheld.

The Council further highlighted the destructive consequences of redrawing boundaries based on ethnic divisions, citing examples from the Balkans, Rwanda, and Sudan, where such actions resulted in long-standing conflicts.

"In Manipur, this could lead to social unrest, economic collapse, and erosion of trust among the diverse communities - such as the Naga, Kuki, and M eetei - which have coexisted for centuries".

"Further complicating the issue is the shrinking population of the Meetei community, now reduced to just 43 per cent of the state's total population due to systemic population engineering.

This demographic change, combined with colonial-era policies of divide and rule, has exacerbated tensions between the state's ethnic groups," the MIYC said.

The statement recalled the historic rally on August 4, 1997, where over 500,000 Manipuris came together to defend the state's territorial integrity, underscoring resolute opposition of the people to any attempts to divide the state along ethnic lines.

The MIYC then urged the Central government to respect the principle of Uti Possidetis Juris, as upheld in international law, honour Manipur's territorial integrity and issue a white paper clarifying its stance on the state's boundaries and to initiate peaceful dialogues with all stakeholders involved.

It also appealed to the United Nations, international legal bodies, and civil societies to monitor the situation closely and support Manipur's right to territorial integrity.

The organisation warned that "if the situation is left unaddressed, Manipur could become another flashpoint of conflict in Southeast Asia, akin to the ongoing struggles in Palestine" .

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