Centre, state urged to initiate peace dialogue
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 24 2024: Stating that people of both Meetei anti Kuki-Zo communities do not want to prolong the ongoing conflict, Mumbai-based Centre for Study of Society and Secularism director Irfan Engineer has urged the central and state governments to facilitate peace dialogue at the earliest.

Addressing the media at Koubru Hall of Manipur Press Club, here Thursday, Irfan Engineer disclosecLthat a fact finding team constituted in connection with the turmoil in Manipur has prepared a report on the crisis based on interactions with various stakeholders including Meetei, Kuki and Naga civil society organisations, journalists, academicians, women activists, youth and elected representatives.

The team also visited several relief camps in Imphal, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal and Moreh and talked with the victims, he added.

Irfan revealed that as per the report of the fact finding team the crisis broke out and got protracted due to both the communities in conflict competing for land, natural resources, cultural ethos, employment opportunities and political power.

False rumours and biased information on both sides further fanned the violence.

Instead of indulging only in political dialogue between the two communities, it will better if reconciliation is facilitated from grassroots level to every strata of the society including CSOs, he maintained.

Mentioning that after meeting people from both communities it has come to light that they do not want the crisis to linger any longer, Irfan emphasised that only a peace dialogue will bring out a solution for the prevailing conflict as violence will never lead to peace and harmony.

He further stressed on the need for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons back to their homes, surrender of arms by both the communities and deliver justice for victims of the ongoing strife.

Irfan reiterated that though it is late, but both the centre and the state government should take the present conflict seriously and work for restoration of peace and normalcy.

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