Taragi Cheisu urges PM to resolve violence, stop ethnic division
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 09 2024: Taragi Cheisu, a collective com prising elders and professionals, sub mitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India expressing profound dismay over the persistent violence plaguing the state, and underscoring the urgent need for decisive action to stem the tide of bloodshed, restore harmony and to stop ethnic division.

In a stark indictment of the handling of the ongoing crisis in the state, Taragi Cheisu delivered a scathing rebuke to the central security forces for their alleged complicity in the ethnic vio lence.

Expressing grave concern over the plight of civilians amidst escalating violence, the coalition highlighted disturbing reports of central secu rity forces being implicated in the relocation of vulnerable communities under the guise of evacuation.

Rather than safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of civilians in their settlements, these forces are aiding displacement of entire communities, effectively contributing to what the Taragi Cheisu described as a form of ethnic cleansing.

Such actions, the coalition argued, not only perpetuate division and discord but also evoke comparisons to coercive partitions along communal lines, further deepening the fractures within Manipur's societal fabric.

Informing this to the media in a press meet held at Manipur Press Club here on Sunday, Taragi Cheisu chairperson Khaidem Mani said that the state government has failed to perform its duties effectively even though more than 200 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the crisis lingering for over a year.

It has become a failed government and there is no need for such a government, he charged.

Even when an organisation called Indigenous Tribal Advocacy Committee (ITAC) openly challenged the government against deploying state forces in Kuki dominated areas, the government is remaining silent.

Central security forces deployed in the state are claiming of maintaining neutrality but this is an absurd claim.

They are not brought to remain neutral but to assist the state forces in containing the violence.

The state government has power to use the central forces and the power lies with the chief minister, which is why people are lamenting on the weak nature of the government, he added.

Citing the unprecedented scale of violence witnessed in the state over the past 13 months, the memorandum highlighted impact of ethnic strife on the lives of ordinary citizens.

The failure of both Union and state law enforcement agencies to quell the unrest, despite the deployment of substantial security forces, has left civilians vulnerable and exposed to the horrors of ethnic division.

A particularly alarming trend noted by the Taragi Cheisu is the apparent indifference of central security forces deployed in Manipur.

Rather than actively intervening to restore peace, these forces have been accused of adopting a neutral stance, thereby failing to protect civilians and their properties from armed miscreants.

Moreover, the relocation of vulnerable communities, ostensibly for evacuation purposes, has only served to exacerbate ethnic tensions, leading to the displacement of Meetei and Kuki populations from their ancestral homes.

The memorandum contended that such actions not only undermine the multicultural fabric of Manipur but also perpetuate a cycle of violence and distrust among communities.

The deafening silence of the central government on this matter has only deepened suspicions regarding its motives and commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Furthermore, the memorandum drew the attention to involvement of foreign elements in fomenting unrest in Manipur, as acknowledged by senior government officials and corroborated by recent arrests of a member of Kuki National Front - Military Council (KNF-MC), namely Thongminthang Haokip alias Roger from Imphal Airport, having cross-border terror links, made bv the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

NIA has also ascertained the involvement of foreign Kuki-Zo armed groups in orchestrating the current ethnic violence.

The brazen attacks on civilians and security personnel, coupled with the blockade of vital highways, have plunged the state into a humanitarian crisis of grave proportions, it stated.

In light of these developments, Taragi Cheisu presented a set of urgent demands to the Prime Minister s office.

Foremost among these is an immediate halt to population transfers under the guise of evacuation, with a call for enhanced protection and security measures in affected areas.

Additionally, the memorandum called for active collaboration between civil authorities and security forces to restore law and order in Manipur and ensure the safe passage of civilians and essential goods along vital transport routes.

Moreover, Taragi Cheisu emphasised the imperative of transparency and accountability in addressing the root causes of violence, urging the government to issue a white paper on the Manipur crisis and the involvement of foreign elements.

Finally, in light of the failure to uphold constitutional principles and safeguard the rights of citizens, the memorandum sought urgent measures to restore normalcy in Manipur, reaffirming its multicultural identity and territorial integrity.

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