'Meetei as majority should show compassion'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 12 2023: Highlighting the vital responsibility of Meetei being a majority community in ending the conflict in the state, Peace, Restoration and Rehabilitation Committee of Manipur (PERERECOM) Manipur president Jyotin Waikhom said that Meetei as a majority community should show compassion and forgiveness even if the minority community wronged them.

In a release, Jotin Waikhom maintained that it is not the time to be sentimental and people should also control their emotions and remain calm.

It would be wrong to consider the conflict as a fight between communities.

There have been several attempts to disrupt the identity and territory of Manipur which has a history of more than 2,000 years, he pointed out.

After Manipur merged into India in 1949, the idea of united Manipur and living harmoniously seemed to disintegrate.

The present conflict that broke out on May 3 is also a sign of disintegrating the collective identity of Manipur.

During such crucial times, the role of Meeteis being a majority community is huge.

From those in powers to Meira Paibi and every Meetei should be compassionate and forgiving even if the minority communities wronged them.

Moreover, they should also work together for protecting the integrity and territory of Manipur, he added.

Considering that the land will be developed, elders of the then independent kingdom of Manipur joined India in 1949, he recalled, while adding that not every individual of the then Manipur accepted the merger.

As Manipur is an international border state of India, Manipuris have been facing the consequences when there is any change in India's foreign policy.

Immigrants coming from outside the country started spreading venom thereby disrupting the relationship between the indigenous communities, Jyotin continued.

Non-inclusion of Meetei in Schedule Tribe list by Meetei elders when merged into India in 1949 and inclusion of those living in hills in ST list is one of the reasons for the divide, he explained, while adding that May 3 incident is the consequence of the failure to rectify the mistakes and fill up the loop holes by the governments.

Moreover, the large numbers of illegal Chin-Kukis infiltrated to the state due to improper boundary fencing is also another factor for the conflict, he added.

Suggesting the ways to end the conflict, Jyotin appealed to all for spreading the message of peace sincerely.

He further said that not a single inch of Manipur's boundary when merged into India should be altered.

CSOs, NGOs, Meira Paibi, church leaders should work together for restoration of peace and to rebuild the trust, he opined.

Demanding to take actions against Kuki militants violating SoO ground rules, he exhorted authorities concerned for reha bilitation and resettlement of the people displaced by the conflict.

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