Only a peace initiative headed by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah under the supervision of the PM Narendra Modi is the possible solution to this highly contested ethnic conflict in Manipur says Donn Morgan Kipgen from ground zero.
Post May 2023, ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki community in Manipur has led to geographic division with the Manipur Valley, devoid of Kuki-Zo citizens. The Kuki community feels that over 42,000 were hounded out, and all their properties allegedly stolen.
To ensure security the Union Home Ministry decided to partition Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas, these heavily protected boundary areas are called Buffer-Zones. Security forces are allowed to use deadly force if any side crosses the Buffer-Zone.
Yet what is evident is a division of communities and thus expanding schism thus peace is still a distant dream.
As things stand now, there is very limited initiative for peace-talks nor acceptable argument for peace solution in Manipur. The regular claims made by the CM N Biren Singh that there were secret peace-talks have been found out to be non-existent. But peace and normalcy could be brought about in some ways, here are the options-
President's Rule: - Had there been President's Rule(PR) in the first few weeks of this ethnic conflict, things could be much different. To save a State Govt led by the Meiteis, the Central Govt sacrificed any chance of real peace. Without the PR, the 80,000 strong armed forces personnel could not carry out their bounden duties due to political interferences. There is a political war within this Ethnic War. Had both the Central and State Govts really wanted peace, they could have done it in the first 3 weeks of this conflict. But better too late than never imposition of President’s Rule could bring about peace.
Reimposition of AFSPA the Valley Areas: - One big hurdle for the Armed Forces is the absence of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958(AFSPA) in the valley areas of Manipur. From the very beginning of the Army, Assam Rifles and Central Paramilitary Forces(CAPF) remained powerless to deal with bloody violence launched by the armed Arambai Tenggol [AT] militia, Meira Paibis, armed local volunteers etc in the Valley areas. They could not stop these armed AT and Meitei mobs from killing, looting and burning of houses and properties with just blank firings. Reimposition of AFSPA in the valley areas of Manipur is a necessity.
Prime Ministerial Intervention: - Ever since the beginning of the Ethnic Conflict in Manipur last year, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi stoutly maintained silence on this issue and deputed everything to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Only PM Modi could initiate peace-talks personally. If the PM call up civil, student, intellectual and religious leaders of both the warring communities, they will respond to it. The participation of representatives of the Kuki-Zo militant groups under Ceasefire with the Govt of India is of utmost importance. Trusting only political leaders of both sides is a bad idea. The citizens of Manipur need the initiative of a neutral political leader like PM Modi whose words could be taken as final and binding.
Withdrawal of Special Commandos from Moreh: - The forced deployment of the Meitei-dominated Special Commandos (8th IRB) by CM N Biren Singh in the border town of Moreh, Tengnoupal District has really hurt the sentiments of the Kuki-Zo Community. This led to frequent gunbattles between Kuki-Zo Volunteers and the Spl Commandos. Since there is not a single Meitei citizen in Moreh, the forced deployment of Spl Commando Company in the heart of Kuki-Zo Area is unnecessary and needless display of Meitei Supremacy in this international trade centre. The 5th Assam Rifles, District Police and units of 4th Gorkhas, CRPF and RAF stationed there could easily maintain Law and Order. The 3rd Assam Rifles Bn is in the nearby Tengnoupal Dist HQ for back-up purpose if necessary. If CM Biren really want peace, the first thing he should do is to withdraw the Spl Commandos from Moreh township.
Separate Administration:- Since the Kuki-Zos are most unlikely to return to the Imphal Valley and the Meites will also definitely refuse to settle down in Kuki-dominated hill areas even if there is peace, the best thing is to create some kind of Separate Administration officially under the aegis of the Home Ministry. As of now, there is unofficial "Separate Administration" for Govt and NGOs employees of both the warring communities. At present, Kuki-Zo employees are serving in Kuki-dominated and Naga areas whereas the Meitei employees are serving in the Manipur Valley area.
Conclusion
During the Kuki-Naga Ethnic Conflict of 1993-'94, both the politicians, CSOs, student union and Church leaders of both communities settled together peacefully in Imphal Valley. That was why and how the bloody conflict was resolved within two year's period. Another big factor was the proclamation of President's Rule in Manipur. But this time, all the leaders of the Kuki-Zo Community were hounded out of Imphal Valley by the Meitei leaders. And all their residences and properties looted or destroyed completely. And President's Rule is still not imposed. This makes any initiative for peace a near impossible task.
The State Govt under CM N Singh is just trying to save its face and covertly bury all the blood and guts that have been spilled as silently as possible. It has been indulging in disinformation and New Delhi misinterpreted the situation till now. Worst still, even the CM and the Arambai Tenggol militia have lost their popular control over the Meitei Community.
The presence of the CM in any peace-talks will be stoutly opposed by the Kuki-Zo Community. Only a peace initiative headed by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah under the supervision of the PM Narendra Modi is the possible solution to this highly contested ethnic conflict in Manipur says Donn Morgan Kipgen from ground zero.
[The article is the author’s articulation of the situation and is certified by the author as original in content, unpublished and not submitted for publication/web upload elsewhere, and that the facts and figures quoted are duly referenced, as needed, and are believed to be correct. The article does not reflect the views of publishers of Security Risks Asia and has been published to generate debate on returning peace to Manipur.]
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