The way forward

The government very well knows that both the Meitei as well as Kuki communities have legitimate historical grievances. Both communities ‘rightfully‘ stake claims to land and resources in the state. The divide is evident, the misunderstanding runs deep and the stand-off is apparent. The conflict seemingly involves a multifaceted interplay of a number of issues rather than merely being an ethnic wrangle. Any one-sided narrative in favour of any single group would certainly hinder any serious efforts at a mutually acceptable solution

- SUKHDEEP SANGWAN

 

Much has already been said about Manipur over the last few months but to no avail. Our daughters are raped, Manipur burns, and women are molested. Manipur continues to burn, innocents are hacked to death. Manipur remains in flames, weapons are looted from police armories. Religious places are razed to the ground and Manipur continues to burn. Children are terrified but astonishingly the fire continues to burn our Manipur. God only knows what more needs to be seen yet.

The tale of horror continues; fear persists; dismay, disgust and revulsion in the populace are palpable. Human life seems to be so cheap and discounted that every day it has become a mere ‘number’ of ‘total lives lost’ on that day.

And the count swells incessantly even when we take into account just the officially reported killings. The situation is certainly grim and grave, and necessitates immediate action by the government.

As we all know, the hilly north-eastern state of Manipur borders Myanmar and houses an approximate population of a 3.3 million. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population while 24 per cent are Nagas and 16 per cent Kukis.

In the ongoing violence more than 180 people have been killed, over 400 wounded and close to 60,000 have been displaced. Police, Manipur Rifles and IRB Battalion armouries have been looted and pillaged at will. Their vehicles, equipment and infrastructure have been destroyed; and ironically, no attempt was made to prevent this loot, no firing by these forces even in self-defence. It was an abject surrender to the miscreants. And bizarrely, there is no action against those who surrendered meekly to the troublemakers and ‘misguided’ terrormongers.