The famous writer Mark Twain once remarked, “A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Perhaps this line holds true for modern day India where numerous “news outlets” distort facts to fit their narrative and to benefit their sponsors. But, is it right to use the words ‘modern’ and ‘India’ together? The sole purpose of development is a better life for all. A YouTube video showing India in the top 10 largest economies list is not an achievement. It doesn’t matter how big our armies are or high we are on the passport power index if we can’t protect our own.
Our country is our home and every citizen deserves to live a life of dignity and freedom inside it. Regardless of our religious/political beliefs, one thing that we can all agree on is that the value of human life is paramount. No religion or state says otherwise.
On April 14th this year the Manipur High court directed the state government to “consider” the demand to include the Meiteis in the scheduled tribes list. This is the day from which the condition of the state slowly started deteriorating. Since then, numerous people have written op-eds on what went wrong? Or who is to blame. Politicians have blamed each other and the different tribes are out for each other's blood. But, one thing that no one is talking about is the plight of the people. No side is the good side or bad side in this case. Each side consists of a fellow human being. Why is it that the most advanced species on the planet living in the most developed period of its history fights just like animals do? There is a reason why we invented everything, there is a reason why we developed words and languages. It is so that when two parties disagree, they can use them and not their hands to resolve their issues.
The Vested Interests
An amusing thing to note is how the Indian media has as always reported this incident through their limited sight. The only thing that the media sees is “Hindu vs Muslim” or “BJP vs Congress” and they are feeding the same to their unaware audience.
The primary reason why we have been unable to solve this issue is because we have been looking at it through this very lens. Just like religion is a major issue in most of north india and language in south india; tribal animosity is the primary reason for all fights in North-east india. Organizations both foreign and domestic have left no stone unturned to show this as a fight between Hindus and Christians.
The very reason why there are so many separatist movements in the north east is because of this inability of the rest of the country to see their issue as different from ours. We blame religion for their issues when it's not the truth, not by a long shot. But it will be told as the truth if we don't stop the rampant spread of this narrative.
History
Manipur just like the rest of north east india is fraught with ethnic conflicts due to land rights. There are only 3 major tribes that you should know about to understand the issue.
The Meitei Tribe
The Meitei tribe is the largest ethnic group in the Indian state of Manipur. There is some debate about the accuracy of data on the Meitei tribe, as there is no single, authoritative source. However, most estimates put the population of the Meitei tribe at around 1.5 million people. The Meitei people are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur. The Imphal Valley is a fertile valley located in the center of Manipur. They are in a majority in the state of Manipur.
The tribe has been demanding for a Scheduled Tribe status since 2012 which has been the cause of numerous incidents of violence. Their population, which was 59% of the total population of Manipur in 1951, has now been reduced to 44% as per 2011 Census data.They believe that granting ST status would help preserve their ancestral land, tradition, culture, and language, and safeguard them against outsiders.
The Kuki Tribe
The Kuki tribe is a large ethnic group found in Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The Kuki tribe is believed to have originated in the Chin Hills of Myanmar and subsequently migrated to neighboring states. According to the 2011 census, they have a population of around 85K. The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis. Collectively, they are termed the Zo people. Some fifty tribes of Kuki peoples in India are recognised as scheduled tribes, based on the dialect spoken by that particular Kuki community as well as their region of origin. Due to the fact that the Kukis migrated from Myanmar in the 19th century, they have been long considered as ‘outsiders’ by the Meiteis and the Nagas. They have ST status in the state of Manipur.
The Naga Tribe
The Nagas are a group of indigenous peoples native to northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. They have ST status in the state of Nagaland. They have an approximate population of 2.5 million with 6.5 lakh in Manipur alone.
Now, these three tribes have fought amongst each other more times than one can remember since independence. As a populace we need to understand that the fight amongst the tribes in North east is rarely religious even though there have been numerous attempts by western news agencies with little to knowledge on the complexities of the issue to paint this as a religious issue. India has long struggled with religious riots amongst almost all groups which is why it becomes so easy for people and organizations with nefarious intentions to paint this as a fight between Christians and Hindus.
The ongoing conflicts between the Meiteis, which encompass Hindus, Sanamahis, Christians, and Muslims (also known as Pangals), and the predominantly Christian Kukis serve as the primary evidence of this situation. The Kukis have displayed no discrimination based on religious beliefs and have targeted Meitei Christian churches, as well as Hindu and Sanamahi places of worship. It is important to note that various tribes and communities in the Northeast have their own churches, yet the Kukis perceive all Meiteis, regardless of their religious affiliations, as a unified entity, making them vulnerable to their attacks. The same is true for Meiteis as well.
Throughout the clashes in 2023, the Nagas have mostly remained uninvolved, with the conflict primarily revolving around the Kuki-Meitei rivalry. This conflict centers around tribal rights, which might be difficult for an outsider to grasp, but obtaining tribal status grants access to government benefits and concessions, providing a strong incentive for the tribes to engage in these confrontations.
The ongoing conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis is not rooted in religious disparities. In fact, Manipur has experienced relatively minimal communal tensions, except for the clashes in May 1993 between Hindus and Sanamahis on one side and Muslims (Pangals) on the other. Previous tensions between the Meiteis and Nagas have mainly been driven by ethnic distinctions rather than religious considerations.
Territorial integrity of Manipur
The Meiteis have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the territorial integrity of their state and have been cautious about any measures that could encourage separatist sentiments. Due to this concern, they are hesitant to grant significant autonomy to the Nagas and Kukis, who have been pushing for autonomous district councils to govern their respective regions. The Meiteis are apprehensive that fulfilling this demand could set a precedent for the potential disintegration of their state in the future
The resemblance between the 1990s conflict between the Kukis and Nagas and the current Meitei-Kuki conflict is striking. During that period, the Nagas grew agitated due to the significant and illegal influx of Kuki migrants from Myanmar into the hills of Manipur, which the Nagas considered their ancestral lands. The Kuki immigrants settled in the northern districts of Manipur, namely Ukhrul, Tamenglong, and Senapati, which the Nagas viewed as their own territories. This influx of Kukis from Myanmar was prompted by the 8888 Uprising in Myanmar and the subsequent brutal crackdown by the military junta on civilians.
Likewise, the recent influx of Kuki immigrants from Myanmar into Manipur can be attributed to the junta's brutal treatment of civilians in their homeland. The Nagas were troubled by the growing Kuki population, fearing it could lead to territorial disputes. Unfortunately, these fears materialized as the Kukis started claiming ownership of lands historically considered Naga territory. This dispute led to the Nagas driving away Kukis, sparking violent clashes as the Kukis retaliated.
The Current Conflict
To understand the ongoing Meitei-Kuki conflict, it is crucial to take into account the following context. In the past two years, there have been reports of a noteworthy migration of individuals belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Zo ethnic group from unstable regions in Myanmar into Manipur. This has sparked concerns among the Meiteis, who fear that the influx might result in a demographic imbalance. Since the Kukis already make up 25 percent of the state's population, their growing numbers could potentially reinforce their demands for autonomy.
Both Meiteis and Nagas view many Kukis as outsiders from Myanmar and dispute their claim over lands they currently inhabit in Manipur. Historically, the British brought a small number of Kukis from Myanmar and encouraged their settlement in Manipur's hills. This migration from Myanmar has continued, leading Meiteis (and Nagas) to question the Kukis' status as original inhabitants of Manipur.
It is essential to note that religion does not play a role in this dispute. Even Meitei Christians, despite the Kukis being overwhelmingly Christian, view them as 'outsiders' and illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
The Narcotics Angle
The Meiteis attribute a significant number of drug abuse cases to the Kukis, which is why the Biren Singh government's crackdown on poppy cultivation, initiated late last year, garnered support not only from the Meiteis but also from the Nagas. Kuki migrants from Myanmar have been establishing settlements in unoccupied regions, primarily forests, in the hills and participating in poppy cultivation and other agricultural activities. In response, the Biren Singh government designated these lands as reserve forests and expelled the Kuki settlers from those areas. This move earned Biren Singh the approval of the Meiteis.
The combination of these two measures—the eviction of Kuki settlers from occupied lands and the crackdown on illicit poppy cultivation—generated significant resentment among the Kukis. This resentment eventually sparked protests in late April, which escalated into attacks on Meiteis in Churachandpur on 3 May. In response, the Meiteis in Imphal Valley reacted swiftly and violently.
The rapid increase in tribal villages and poppy cultivation in the hill districts, signifying the expanding influence of the Chinese drug cartel in Myanmar, raised considerable concerns. Chief Minister N Biren Singh's government took action to address these issues over the last year, leading to social tension. The High Court's recommendation for tribal status to Meiteis in April further deepened the divide.
No single community can be solely blamed for the ensuing events. Both the hills and the capital city of Imphal witnessed violence, with the Meitei community suffering in the hills, and the Kuki-Zomi community experiencing atrocities in Imphal. Fortunately, the Nagas refrained from participating in the unrest this time.
Dealing with the problem
Currently, the state administration lacks control over the Kuki-dominated areas, which comprise 90 percent of the landmass. In the last two years, uncontrolled infiltration of people, drugs, and arms from Myanmar's bordering districts exacerbated the situation. The return of Myanmar's military Junta in 2021 led to an armed militia group, the People's Defence Force (PDF), seeking refuge in Manipur (and Mizoram) due to the open border and tribal kinship. It is crucial for the Central government to secure this frontier first, as violence in the state cannot be controlled while arms continue to flow in from across the border.
Notably, the socially influential Kuki tribesmen in the Imphal Valley, occupying 10 percent of the state's area, garnered media attention to the atrocities that took place in that region. In contrast, the Meitei population in the hills, belonging to less privileged sections, experienced a scattered and underrepresented plight, with their struggles largely undocumented by TV cameras. Presently, many of them reside in relief camps or have sought refuge in neighboring states.
Ethnic clashes in the Northeast are not uncommon, but the crisis in Manipur stands out for its unprecedented scale. Lack of effective official communication has allowed one-sided narratives to spread, catching the attention of both global and Indian media, which can twist and promote their own agendas. Therefore, it is crucial that news related to Manipur comes from official government sources rather than viral posts on Twitter. The situation has been further exacerbated by numerous cases of extreme violence towards women from both tribes, casting shame on the Indian judicial system. Bringing the individuals responsible for these crimes to justice promptly is essential to restore faith in the government's ability to provide justice.
In conclusion, the situation in Manipur demands our attention and understanding. We must reject the misrepresentation of facts and seek the truth to address the region's unique challenges. Every citizen deserves dignity and freedom, regardless of their beliefs, and it is our responsibility to value human life above all else. Let us strive for a better, more informed, and compassionate approach to resolving the conflicts in Manipur. Only then can we hope for a brighter future for the people of this region and our nation as a whole.
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