Photo used for representational purposes only. Controversial issues, including the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meiteis and eviction drives in the hill districts, must be temporarily frozen to give peace a chance, a said a new think tank in its analysis of the situation. situation in Manipur, marked by ethnic conflict. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

GUWAHATI

Controversial issues, including the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meiteis and eviction drives in the hill districts, must be temporarily frozen to give peace a chance, a said a new think tank in its analysis of the situation. situation in Manipur, marked by ethnic conflict.

the Nongthombam Biren Singh government’s push for the NRC with 1961 as the cut-off year for detecting and expelling “illegal migrants” from Myanmar; the demand to declare Meiteis as STs like the other two ethnic groups – Kukis and Nagas – in the state; and campaigns against alleged invaders of protected areas, are believed to have been the triggers for the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.

“These issues (NRC, ST and eviction) must be resolved amicably in the long term. All stakeholders must be proactively involved to encourage dialogue. The message of peace must be communicated to communities with emphasis on the dividends of democratic patience for the resolution of grievances,” said the Society for Harmonizing Aspirations for Responsible Engagement (SHARE) in its analytical report released on Saturday 30 November 2024.

Led by retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Radha Krishna Mathur, SHARE members include former Foreign Minister Harsh Vardhan Shringla, retired Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita and former Director General of Assam Police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta.

“Community leaders and influencers must engage radicalized elements within both communities to bring them on the path to reconciliation. The Union and State governments must make genuine efforts to resolve the grievances of the two communities,” the report said.

Armed radical Meitei organizations, including extremist groups Arambai Tenggol and Kuki-Zo, many of which are under a suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, are believed to be behind the clashes between non-tribal Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo which began in May. August 3, 2023. The clashes left more than 250 dead, many missing and around 1,600 injured, while displacing 60,000 others.

Five-way path

The report said the schism between the warring communities deepened when the state government launched an eviction drive from some forest lands and targeted illegal poppy cultivation. The Meities also claimed that thousands of Kukis had migrated from Myanmar and established 996 “illegal” villages in a short span of time, thereby disrupting the demographic balance of the state.

“Control of the border town of Moreh, a hub of illegal trade and smuggling from Myanmar by armed cadres of the Kuki SoO groups, has also become a bone of contention between competing Meitei insurgent groups. On the other hand, the Manipur government’s unilateral repeal of the SoO was intolerable to the Kuki population,” the report said.

The demand for ST status by the Meiteis, which gained momentum after an observation by the Manipur High Court, led to a protest march by the Kukis in Churachandpur on May 3. The march turned violent and was the trigger for arson and large-scale fires. villages, according to the report.

SHARE said the Center seems to be following a five-way path to handle the Manipur situation. These include the construction of a fence along the border between India and Myanmar; the abolition of the free movement regime (FMR) which allowed cross-border workers to travel up to 16 km in each other’s countries; the strategic deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF); filling sensitive gaps along the India-Myanmar border; and hold talks with warring communities.

He said the meeting of elected representatives of Meitei, Kuki and Naga communities of Manipur convened by the Home Minister on October 15 was a step in the right direction towards resolving the crisis.

The think tank has made short-term and long-term recommendations to get Manipur back on track. Short-term recommendations include controlling the violence by closing the India-Myanmar border and sanitizing hotspots, building confidence to ease the nerves of those caught in the conflict, and temporarily shelving the NRC and other controversial projects.

Long-term recommendations include initiating talks with all extremist groups, improving border infrastructure and creating a ‘North East Cadre’ for officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the Indian Service. Indian Police Service (IPS) to address the polarization of bureaucrats and police in Manipur and elsewhere in the region.