The continuing tragedy of Manipur: Time for stern decisions to safeguard national security

By Lt Gen Kamal Davar (Retd)

• With over 4000 weapons in unauthorized hands, the Manipur tinderbox can explode anytime. Firing at each other between the Meities and Kukis using an assortment of small weaponry is going on intermittently with the Manipur Police and security forces unable to effectively control the violence.

August 8. The events in the past three months in India’s distant border state of Manipur is beyond routine happenstance. In a most profound and ancient of civilizations embellished with tales of godly values as its heritage, the gravely inhuman occurrences in it as witnessed in Manipur in recent weeks are beyond ordinary comprehension and definitely alien to the comprehension of most Indians of what constitutes the essence of India.

That India, now the world’s most populated nation with multiple diversities in caste, colour, creed and religions is not an easy nation to govern will be understating the obvious. But it is equally a fact of contemporary history that after India’s independence 75 years back, this diverse nation has displayed remarkable resilience and unity whenever dark clouds have loomed large over it, overcome them, and come out victorious is a facet which we can all be proud of. Regions and cultures which centuries back were never politically part of Indian identity in this vast sub-continent have gradually merged into a national uniqueness. Thus it is reprehensible when some sections of society/ political dispensations for petty, transient political gains stoke the fires of divisiveness amongst local communities. Who will win if India loses is something they must ask themselves. If the truism that national problems demand national solutions has any validity it needs to be practised now with all sincerity

India’s northeastern region, also referred to as the seven sisters (excluding Sikkim), comprises the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura. Home to an amazing anthropological diversity, the Northeast showcases countless tribes (nearly 200) with the prominent among them being Garo, Khasi Jaintia, Adi, Tangkhul, Mizo, Karbis, Angami, Konyak, Bhutias, Kuki, Bodo, Deori besides many other sub-tribes. All the Northeastern states have a mixture of tribes who, though having a history of major differences with each other, yet have stayed, more or less, in peace together. They have also some inter-married and despite belonging to different religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Pangal (Muslim), Buddhism, Ahom, Donyi-Polo, Wancho, Nocte have not had serious religious conflicts between them. Even in Manipur — the current conflict zone — its major tribes as the Meiteis, Kuki, Nagas and a few Muslims have co-existed harmoniously except in 1993 and 1997 when inter-tribal violence did result causing a large number of deaths amongst the warring tribes. Amazingly, apart from the majority of Meities, Manipur can boast of having had earlier two Naga and one Pangal chief minister. The current chief minister, N. Biren Singh hails from the Meitei community.

Combination of factors

As the central government will surely be looking at measures to usher in peace on a permanent basis, even though belatedly now, we need to also remember that in today’s information-driven world, one cannot put a cloak over misdeeds or misgovernance. Internal happenings are no longer restricted to their own boundaries but have a habit of finding resonance globally. Nevertheless, the US ambassador’s offer to help India in its Manipur crisis, if so requested, was indeed uncalled for and amounts to meddling in India’s internal affairs. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has accordingly rebutted all such suggestions effectively.

The Manipur crisis, simmering beneath the surface, can be attributed to a combination of factors that are indeed common to most of our Northeastern states which now must be addressed with the seriousness and alacrity they deserve. The attitude and machinations of the Myanmar military, Manipur’s unfenced border with Myanmar and consequently the ease of infiltration from across both terrorists and refugees, the highly lucrative and the well established drug trade, and, of course, traditional inter-tribal animosities have all contributed to the current terrible and continuing violence in Manipur. Some tribes have reportedly organized their own vigilantes and well-armed commando units!

Importantly, China’s long-established policies of fomenting trouble in India’s Northeast for decades cannot be wished away and remains a constant threat. Another important cause of unrest, off and on, has been the demands of certain larger tribes to have some form of self-administrative units like autonomous hill councils for themselves — a demand with a ripple effect dimension which thus cannot be easily accepted by the government with the plethora of diverse tribes staying in close proximity and the political ambitions of their local leaders pervading in the region.

According to reliable reports since 3 May 2023, over 150 people have died, nearly 50,000 people have been displaced, their houses burnt by opposing tribes, women sexually violated and normalcy utterly extinguished. The triggering cause was, in reality, the Kuki tribes vehemently opposing the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe status as the Kukis feel that this grant to the Meities will rob the Kukis of their employment opportunities, land holdings, other economic benefits, and the like. On the other hand, the Meiteis remain apprehensive sandwiched as they are between Greater Nagalim and Kuki-Chin-Zomi homeland demands. The performance of the Manipur Police and the state government in handling the crisis has come in for a lot of criticism and what is appalling has been the looting of arms and ammunition from the police armoury. With over 4000 weapons in unauthorized hands, the Manipur tinderbox can explode anytime. Firing at each other between the Meities and Kukis using an assortment of small weaponry is going on intermittently with the Manipur Police and security forces unable to control the violence.

Most news channels, including those considered pro-establishment, are daily displaying the woes and violence lingering on in unfortunate Manipur with the simple folk suffering acutely for no rhyme or reason. A buffer zone appears to have been created between the Kuki and Meiteis with the security forces manning them and separating the two warring tribes — shameful to say the least after 75 years of independence — buffer zones between own people! Equally, intelligence agencies, both at the Centre and state levels should have been able to gauge the impending discontent so that the administration could have taken appropriate prophylactic measures. Media reports also indicate some differences in the handling of the ground situation among the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police while ensuring peace among the warring tribes.

Speedy actions warranted

By all accounts, since the Manipur problem has spiraled beyond the control of the vacillating and ineffective state government, the Centre will have to take speedy stern measures before the domino effect singes other Northeasten states. In Mizoram, some Meities have commenced exiting the state despite the Mizoram govt endeavouring to provide them security. India cannot afford to have its NE region bordering China in any form of turmoil and thus suitable corrective measures need to be put in place. Petty and party politics by all will have to be consigned to the background in the larger national interest.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has asked for a status report on the Manipur violence.  It goes without saying that some stern decisions have to be taken by Delhi to curb the current unrest in Manipur. Firstly, the Centre could consider replacing the state government and promulgating President’s Rule for a short duration as is also the general feeling of most citizens even across the political divide. Secondly, it will be ideal to appoint the GOC-in-C Eastern Command to head the Unified Command comprising all security forces and is given a free hand under the state governor to control the overall security situation. The Indian Army is known to handle internal security situations with sensitivity and compassion combined with firmness where and as required. All efforts should be made speedily to calm the agitating tribes sufficiently to return back to their lands, homes, and hearths and rebuild their lives once again with the generous assistance of the government. Violence against ordinary citizens by members of other tribes and especially by those who may have infiltrated from across will have to be dealt with exemplary firmness and alacrity.

An all-party delegation to Manipur should be sent which camps there for a few days and assures the suffering people of the nation’s resolve to bring back normalcy to them. Prior to that, a meeting in New Delhi of major political parties, concerned intellectuals, Northeast experts and other stakeholders to formulate a national strategy to solve the current Manipur problem should be held and a political consensus achieved. It will indeed be an exemplary step to bring back peace and harmony to one of our strategic states.

Politicians of all hues must never forget the simple truth that politicization in matters of national security will strike irreparable blows to the nation’s well-being. With the overall internal security situation displaying marked improvement in Jammu and Kashmir, let’s keep our Northeast region also free from internal troubles. Peace, security and progress of the Northeast are critical for the success of India’s Act East policy. Accordingly, right across the region, tranquility and harmony amongst all our tribes is a sine qua non.

— By arrangement with SOUTH ASIA MONITOR.