Retrospection on Manipur Violence

Manipur, ‘the jewel of India ‘ has turned into ' the devil of media’ since 3rd May 2023. The ethnic violence, so horrible to recount, killed more than 100 innocent civilians and rendered almost one lakh people displaced. The bloodbath in Imphal was gloomy by the glow of the fire, smoke dark as the riots in black, turning it into a valley of sorrow. The dreams of once, peace-loving citizens who proudly introduce themselves to outsiders as Manipuri, reduced into ashes, in the arson. The land where 34 different tribes had settled together since time immemorial, what factors turn Sanaleibak into Santhileibak? Red marks on the gates of the Kukis in the heart of Imphal city has proved that the ongoing war is a premeditated one.

Let us Retrospect in-depth to avoid another civil war.

As the saying goes, war is fought in a battle but won on a table, civilian village volunteers fought in the front lines. They were compelled into a do-or-die situation. They dream of a visionary leader who is capable of upholding the nation, one who knows ways to avoid a bloodbath. A leader needs civilized citizens’ support, which will not render them bear the consequences of their ignorance as well as intolerance.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA: Social media like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc escalated in promoting and propagating hate speeches in the past few years. Careless Facebook users, dirty comments, immoral videos, targeting particular communities, from laymen to leaders mocked/ troll had triggered the politically aggrieved society. Boasting on social media, disrespecting the government, or despising God by creating funny videos of Bible verses, prayers, and sermons has become a normal thing, which rendered the youths astray.

Unproductive lazy creatures who had no better work than editing, propagating false information either for fun or for cheap popularity, sharing Fake news, editing news clips to propagate false agendas, hate speeches, dirty comments, directly or indirectly had worsen the situation. Rape, lynching, arson, committed by the mob riots, in a moment of anger to retaliate as a result of the fake news, escalated the situation beyond control. The pain, the deep wounds rendered on the victims, is inconsolable. The perpetrators, sooner or later, will regret their whole lives, having committed such heinous crimes once they come back to senses. They will pay the price, surely, Karma never forget names and addresses.
Majority of netizens who boasts in social media are never in the battlefields. On the other hand, the poor innocent civilians paid the price of the consequences of careless media war. Netizens should be sensible, do fact check before taking any decision to retaliate.

WHY ARE CHURCHES TARGETED?
Churches play an important role in the tribal society. A church is not only the place of worship but also a platform where ones' personality is groom. In short, it is a center for an all round development: physically, mentally and spiritually. Churches are targeted/ destroyed because it is their stronghold, where civilization begin. Moreover, burning churches will gain sympathy of the mainland Hindu fanatics as well. Church planting became more prevalent in post independence period. The rise in Christianity hampers the indigenous people culturally, politically and spiritually to a great extent. The Christian missionaries spirit for conversion of non Christian into Christianity is another factor that strengthen the Meitei radicals. There are many brilliant kids from BPL families, physically challenged, destitute Homes, drug rehabilitation etc who deserve more attention as member of the church than converting non believers to invite hatred. If churches invest in establishing educational institutions, hospitals, the income generating schemes would not only help society better but also provide jobs/ livelihood for many. A well established nation is strong, their voices are heard and their women get the respect they deserve.

REVIVALISM OF MEITEI RADICALS
In this post modern world, almost every society attempt to restructure the bond through revivalism to maintain some sort of purity in culture, religion and language. The Meitei radicals strive to revive their indigenous customs, cultures and beliefs. Politically, the ethnic cleansing was well planned targeting the non-Naga tribes of Manipur though poorly executed due to the unprecedented violence which suddenly broke out a little earlier. Out of anger, the riots in hundreds and thousands, attacked the innocents Kuki-Zo communities, torched vehicles and engaged in arson, which was part and parcel of their objectives.

POPPY CULTIVATION
For the progress of a nation, the government as well as the citizens are equally responsible. Rights and duties go hand in hand. But when a particular community is repeatedly disturb from different angles, the suppressed community is bound to eventually pinpoint at the loopholes of the government's inefficiency. Yes, the duty of the Forest dwellers' is to protect the environment. Poppy had been cultivated in the hilly regions of Manipur, both in the Naga as well as the Kuki inhabited areas for decades. The drug lords are none other than the rich valley people. In fact, the Kukis are dead against poppy cultivation though some poor farmers fall prey to the lucrative profit. Kuki CSOs, Church leaders and educationists, did their best sorting out ways to alternative arrangements. Meanwhile the Kukis are branded as poppy cultivators, illegal immigrants and what not. This kind of baseless name calling hurt the sentiments of peace loving citizens. No doubt, the kukis had to tolerate the false allegations until intolerance resulted as a result of the painful May 3 incident, when the Meiteis started the ethnic cleansing. Many kukis were killed in a cold blooded manner, many women were beaten up and raped. Kukis were threatened never to return to Imphal. They shouted at them in contempt ” you refugees, go away, son of a slave, poppy planters, illegal immigrants…”. These slogans are devised to buried the political rights of the ethnic group in target and to blindfold the common and innocent people. These slogans sharply divided communities and isolated the target group.

THE ISSUE OF RESERVED FOREST
The Kukis, (Khongjai) and Nagas( Lahupa) since time immemorial, had been settled in the valley of Manipur and were uprooted by the latter comer now call Meitei into the Hills. Lahupas(Tangkhul) move to the east and Khongjai to the south. The Kukis are brave warriors who protected Manipur from the onslaught of Burmese. They also took part in the liberation of Manipur from Burmese in 1825. About 1100 Kuki warrior took part during Manipur revolt against the British in 1891( Anglo-Manipur War)and fought the British for three years long called 'Anglo-Kuki War' or 'Kuki Rising'1917-1919. During the second world war, they join Indian National Army and Imperial Japanese Army to liberate India and fought the British. Many had sacrificed their lives for the cause of India's freedom movement and in protecting the integrity of Manipur(King).There is no dearth of documents, published books in history which prove that the Kukis had been one of the early inhabitants of Manipur. In short, the present government introduce new acts and policies which resulted in the eviction of K Songjang village. Soon many other Kuki settlements were ordered to be evicted. ITLF ( Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum) and many other leaders work tirelessly to defend the land they inherited from their forefathers.

DEMAND FOR ST BY THE MEITEIS
The Meitei’s are, in fact, highly cultured, educated and civilize community known world wide, until recently they stoop so low to demand the ST status. They took the lion’s share in the state budgets, and occupied all the big business center. Why don’t they consider themselves in the position of the Tribals, who hardly get the government schemes and benefits, live in remote areas with no proper education and medical facilities etc. Instead of sharing more of the funds and facilities to uplift the underprivileged communities, they are greedy to grab the Tribals’ land.

The solidarity March by the all Tribals of Manipur under the banner of ATSUM on May 3 was a peace rally address to the government about their grievances, an appeal to respect the tribal land rights as provided in the article 371C of the Indian constitution. The Nagas too, joined in the said Solidarity March. The Meiteis knew well, that if the Nagas and Kuki Zo are united, they will not be able to accomplished their agendas. They targeted specifically to the Kukis of Churachandpur district. The long pending grudges on hold from both the Meitei and Kuki politicians spark the fire that later engulf the whole of Kuki-Zo inhabitants.

THE CHIEF MINISTER OF MANIPUR, N BIREN SINGH
The strong sense of nationalism plus revivalism that prevail for years from both the communities exploded on May 3 when Meitei mobs started violence on the border village of Kuki at Kangvai injuring a civilian Kuki who succumbed to his injuries at Hospital. They started burning some houses at Kangvai, killed innocent civilians in Imphal valley on the same evening. In retaliation, some Kukis too, respond the same in different parts of the state. Had the Chief Minister intervened the situation/violence in time, the havoc would not be so much as it had now. As the saying goes, ‘a stitch in time saves nine', the government remain silent for quite a long time, say after 18 hours, when it has spread like wild fire, making it 'untimely stitch saves none'. He doesn’t save himself either. His name will be written down in the History as the naïve ruler. He is like magnificent Suleiman Khan, who ordered the killing of his own innocent son, Shezade Mustafa in the Persian history. Suleiman Khan was Blinded by Alexandria @Hurrem so much so that he believed Mustafa had turned his greatest enemy.

The fear psychosis, and trust deficit developed, what if the MLA and ministers were attacked, top bureaucrats’ houses got torched, women and children beaten, raped, arson in broad daylight, how could the Kukis ever go back to Imphal? If the minority Kukis are not protected, they will be wiped out from the face of the earth.

VILLAGE VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT TERRORISTS
When the violence broke out on May 3, the Kukis as well as Meitei civilians fled their homes and take refuge at the nearby army camps. Later their relatives help them booked flight ticket to escape the genocide attempt. The Kukis outside Manipur help them in rehabilitation for weeks. Those who could not afford to fled outside Manipur, were rescued and escorted to safety. (Mainly in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi district). Thousands of displaced people were at relief camps. When the Tribals were in desperate state, the Meitei riots continuously and regularly attacked the Kukis at different places. Many villagers could not defended themselves and eventually fled to safety. The remaining villages had to bear their ration and other necessities while also defending themselves in the front line with country made single barrel. Instead of controlling the riots who attacked the Kukis using sophisticated weapons, the village volunteers who defended their land and people were termed as terrorists.

THE ROLE OF PARAMILITARY FORCES AND CSOs
As soon as the violence broke out, the Kukis had never expected that the capital city would be that much pathetic. They believe in the government and security, but alas! they fled in emergency to save their lives. There were thousands of civilians stranded at different places, both Meiteis and Kukis. In that crucial moment, when desperate people lost trust in the government, thanks to the Indian army, paramilitary forces, Assam rifles, the Kuki women union, the Meira Paibis etc . They played an important role in protecting and rescuing the innocent civilians who were stranded in different places. During the violence, the Para Millitary forces work tirelessly day and night, protecting, rescuing and evacuating civilians irrespective of class, caste and community.

SOLUTIONS FOR PEACE
The Meiteis demanded ST status to avail certain benefits in the government jobs, to exempt from paying income tax and mainly to acquire tribal lands which is protected by article 371C of the Indian constitution. The ethnic violence was so horrible that it is not possible for the Kukis to go back and settle in Imphal. They had no option other than to demand for a separate administration. Manipur is already geographically and demographically seperated into Hills and Valley. Hon’ble Union minister Amit Shah and his team's 3 days visit didn’t help. The state forces and even a section of the paramilitary forces were alleged to led valley militants in attacking the Kuki villages and vice verse. There are gun fights, burning of houses in the peripheral region, reports of dead and casualties everyday. Imphal based medias reported one sided story. Villages in Kasom block under Kamjong districts like Natjang and N Mollen villages and burning down of more than 20 villages in Mapithel Dam areas goes unreported despite of dead reports from the survivors.

If every mother sensitized their children from both the communities, not to attack anymore, this way we will be able to co operate with Amit Shah’s suggestions. Let’s give peace a chance. We have lost precious lives, much properties, our children will lagged behind for generations. What more do we have to sacrifice?

Dear Hon’ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shahji, how long state forces will take to erase the Christian Minority of Manipur? We are dying, we are wounded, if the Centre don’t take immediate measures to protect the suppressed minority, we are helpless.
SAVE MINORITIES, SAVE KUKI ZO

(Views expressed are personal)