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Eliminate violence and have faith in democratic dialogue: Only solution to Manipur imbroglio

By Sandeep Pandey* 
Statements of Mizoram CM Lalduhoma made some time back in the United States calling for unification of Kukis, unjustly divided under three different Governments of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, under single leadership even if it meant transcending national borders has drawn criticism from CM of Manipur N. Biren Singh who has responded by saying he is committed to territorial integrity of India and Manipur.
On 31 October 2024 two youth belonging to Poumai Naga tribe, V Hrangao Blesson and Dalou were allegedly assaulted and looted by Arambai Tenggol, the militant Meitei group in Lamshang area of Imphal, an attack which was condemned by United Naga Council.
Liangmai Naga Council has petitioned President of India to declare Committee on Tribal Unity, a Kuki organization based in Kangpokpi, as unlawful for calling the visit of CM N. Biren Singh to neighbouring Senapati district for Liangmai Chaga Ngee celebrations a ‘trespass and a dangerous provocative act’ thereby escalating tensions between Nagas and Kukis.
In a convention of Thadou Community International on 1 November in Guwahati a resolution was passed to the effect that Thadou tribe is not Kuki but is distinct, separate and independent entity from Kuki. Soon thereafter on November 5 the Thadou Inpi, the apex body of Thadous based in Kangpokpi dismissed all resolutions of TCI as ‘emotional outburst’. It is noteworthy that Thadou are considered to be the largest among the different Kuki tribes.
On 7 November a woman Sangkim was killed and six houses torched by suspected Meitei militants in an attack on Zairon Hmar village in Jiribam. Two days later a 34 years Meitei woman farmer Sapam Sofia was killed by Kuki militants in Saiton village in Bishnupur. Whereas CRPF bore the anger of Kuki-Hmar women in Jiribam, Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) farmers’ wing has criticized BSF for failure in saving the life of Sapam Sofia.  
While the Union Government has launched an ambitious Rs. 31,000 crores project to fence the 1,643 km India-Myanmar border in a bid to prevent illegal Kuki immigration, drug trafficking and arms,  seen as a major factor by Meiteis in the ongoing crisis, headmen of border villages associated with Tangkhul Naga Long walked out of a meeting on 7 November jointly chaired by Deputy Commissioners of Ukhrul and Kamjong, opposing the border fencing and suspension of Free Movement Regime, which they see as threat to their cultural, social and economic relationships across the border.
On 8 November Supreme Court agreed to look into audio recordings submitted by petitioner Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust allegedly pointing to role of N. Biren Singh in the communal violence in Manipur between Kukis and Meiteis.
On 8 November, General Secretary of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Issac-Muivah), Thuingaleng Muivah has threatened to break its 1997 ceasefire agreement with the Government of India and return to insurgency if its demands for a separate Flag and Constitution are not met in the ongoing negotiations. Manipuris feel that the idea of Greater Nagalim could pose a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
United Naga Council has resumed talks with Governments of India and Manipur after five years on its demand to roll back the creation of seven new districts by the Government of Manipur on 8 December, 2016. Nagas see these districts as advantaging the Kukis over their interests.
Ten Kuki-Zo MLAs of Manipur, all of them belonging to BJP, have denied as blatant lie the submission in Supreme Court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that CM is meeting all Kuki MLAs to bring peace to the state.
On 10 November Internally Displaced Persons from four relief camps in Imphal held a demonstration seeking to know when will they return home?
On 11 November ten Kuki militants were shot dead by CRPF when they carried out an attack in Jiribam district. Bodies of two Meitei men were found a day after this incident and three women and three children of Meitei community went missing. Rashok Horam, a Thangkhul Naga farmer, was injured by Kuki militants the same day in Yaingangpokpi area. Meitei and Naga groups have given a call for bandhs.
On 14 November Armed Forces Special Powers Act was reimposed in 6 of the 19 Imphal Police Stations from where it was lifted some time back.
On 15 November bodies of one of the missing women and two children were found floating in river Jiri in Jiribam and all hell has broken loose. Curfew has been imposed in Imphal West where houses of several political leaders, mostly belonging to BJP, were attacked by mobs and internet has been shutdown in 7 Districts.
The collage of events spread over about a fortnight reflect the conundrum that is Manipur today. Violence doesn’t appear to end and feelings are getting hardened. A madness seems to have taken over the state.
The government is not merely helpless, it has not even exhibited a political will to solve the problem. Most citizens of the state, including the Meiteis, think that the state government has become part of the problem. Narendra Modi’s role is conspicuous in abdicating his responsibility towards the state and its people. Manipur has become India’s orphan state.
But what is the way out of identity assertion politics? Nagas and Kukis are opposed to ST status for Meiteis. Meiteis and Nagas are opposed to separate administration for Kukis. Meiteis are opposed to the idea of Greater Nagalim. Demands of different ethnic communities seem to be intractable as they adversely impinge on the interest of other communities.
 A solution may be found if following principles are accepted by all: (1) Abjure violence and give up arms, (2) Relate sovereignty not to land but to people, (3) Agree to overlapping geographical areas of different sovereign entities, (4) Resolve all issues through dialogue in a democratic manner.
Before we elaborate on the possible solution let us consider the case of Tibetan movement for independence.  About a lakh Tibetans live in India. There are other Tibetans in different parts of the world. They have a parliament and a government in exile which functions from Dharamshala. The members to this parliament are chosen by Tibetans living outside Tibet through voting. Hence we have an example of an administration which functions without jurisdiction over any land. In a democracy people are sovereign and it is these sovereign people who represent the nation of Tibet. Hopefully they will be able to go back to Tibet one day and will have a sovereign country too.
 If all stakeholder parties agree to abovementioned principles then it may be possible to have a separate administration for Kukis, Greater Nagalim for Nagas and at the same time territorial integrity of Manipur would be preserved. Separate administration area for Kukis will overlap with a portion Manipur. Similarly, parts of Greater Nagalim would overlap with parts of Kuki separate administration area and other partial areas of Greater Nagalim would overlap with some parts of Manipur. Each sovereign entity would have its citizens attached to them whose interests they will take care of. Each sovereign entity would collect taxes from only those citizens who are affiliated to them. In any case, even now most insurgent groups have a system of collecting levy from their members. NSCN(IM) runs a parallel government in Nagaland from Hebron, outside Dimapur. Common facilities, for example hospitals, schools serving the same area could be jointly managed. Infrastructure areas like highways, petrol pumps, rail, communication could be looked after by the Union government. National government itself would not remain exclusive. When national boundaries would begin to loosen some sovereign entity may transcend national boundaries. For example, it may be possible to have a Kuki sovereign area covering India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Hence, what Lalduhoma is saying may not be a totally absurd idea. Similarly Greater Nagalim would extend into Myanmar. There are other communities in the world like Baluch, Kurd who would like to have their sovereign entities transcending national boundaries. Tibet would be able to share its sovereignty with China. Kashmir could have a similar arrangement with India and Pakistan. Condominium, a concept of two entities jointly managing a sovereign territory, is an established idea.
However, the key to working out a solution on above lines is to eliminate violence and have faith in democratic dialogue. A culture of working together with a spirit of cooperation will be necessary like happens in United Nations. All militant groups and armies would have to be disbanded. European Union is a good example that such an ideal is possible to be achieved. 
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*General Secretary, Socialist Party (India)
 


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