Editorial: A ray of hope in Manipur

The restoration of movement on the National Highway is a crucial step toward normalising daily life and economic activity

After two years of ethnic violence, misgovernance and official apathy, there is finally a ray of hope emerging in Manipur. The recent tripartite agreement between the Centre, the Manipur government and two prominent Kuki-Zo insurgent groups is expected to spur efforts for restoring peace and normalcy in strife-torn Manipur. Moreover, the proposed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, his first since the ethnic violence broke out between Meiteis and Kukis in May 2023, has also created a positive atmosphere, which will hopefully lead to finding a lasting political solution. BJP Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who came under severe criticism for his inept handling of the situation, finally resigned in February this year, and since then, the State has been under the President’s rule. The relative calm in recent months is largely attributed to the fact that many militants have returned some of the looted firearms to law enforcement agencies in response to appeals from the authorities. The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) have signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government on re-negotiated terms and conditions under which they agreed on maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur, relocating designated camps away from vulnerable areas and working for a solution to bring lasting peace and stability in the State. Also, the opening of the national highway is seen as a positive step after a prolonged period of stalemate in Manipur. For two years, blockades have effectively partitioned Manipur between the Meitei-dominated valley districts and the Kuki-Zo hill areas.

The restoration of movement on the National Highway is a crucial step toward normalising daily life and economic activity. But these steps alone cannot heal ethnic wounds. Manipur needs a political solution. For that, a popular government needs to be installed first. The latest agreement is certainly a welcome step, but there are some knotty issues yet to be resolved. Various stakeholders need to be taken on board. The root cause of the ethnic conflict — the tussle over the majority Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status — must be addressed as a priority to regain the trust of Kukis and Nagas. The Centre has no time to lose — Manipuris have already waited too long for the healing touch. Manipur has been reeling from ethnic violence since May 2023, after tribal groups in the hills rose up against a High Court order directing the then Biren Singh government to consider granting Scheduled Tribe status to the majority Meitei community. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in the last two years. A political solution involving civil society is the only way forward. Manipur, like most of north-eastern India, is an amalgamation of multiple cultures, faiths and ethnicities, many with a history of mistrust and violence.

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