Stretching out hand towards normalcy First meet after May 3, 2023
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Chief Minister Y Khemchand seems to have worked out his priority, that is if one takes into account the meeting he had with members of the Kuki-Zo Council at Guwa-hati on March 21. Look for normalcy, this is what one can read into the meeting with members of the KZC, but it is too early to say whether this would help pave the way for Manipur to march on the road of normalcy or not. Whatever the outcome, the significance of the Guwahati do is not lost as this was the first such meeting between the Chief Minister and members of a prominent CSO of the Kuki-Zo people after Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023. Whether this can pave the way for further such interactions remains to be seen and has to take into account the response from sections of the Kuki-Zo people to the meeting. That things would not be smooth could be gauged from the fact that just one day before the scheduled meeting, the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), had more or less dubbed it a ‘symbolic peace process.’ The outfit qualified the move to dub the meeting a ‘symbolic peace process’ with the line, ‘prioritise justice for affected communities and to work towards comprehensive and lasting solutions.’ On whose behalf the UKNA came out with such a stand is not clear and it is also not clear at all whether they have the mandate to speak on behalf of the Kuki-Zo people, but the name itself, United Kuki National Army, suggests it identifies itself with the Kuki community at the exclusion of the communities that come under the umbrella of the Zomi people, particularly the Paites who form a significant group of people in Churachandpur. And further muddying the water is the report that has come in of the residence of the chairman of the Kuki-Zo Council being attacked by some elements at Churachandpur. It is not clear who was behind the attack, but interesting to note that the name, Henlianthang Henglet the chairman of KZC, appears to belong to the group of people who identify themselves as Vaiphei. This is what has emerged in the last 48 hours and it is not without a reason why many have started connecting the dots between the Guwahati meeting and the attack at the residence of Henglet in Churachandpur. More than an indication that there are some elements who are out there to foment trouble at any given opportunity which can lead one to the conclusion that the violence of May 3, 2023 was orchestrated wilfully by some and kept burning later on, such as now, only to continue remaining significant in the present situation. Would organisations such as the ITLF in Churachandpur or CoTU in Kangpokpi remain significant or important once everything is resolved and normalcy returns ? In the same frame one may question, who stands to gain by prolonging the situation ? The answer should be obvious to anyone who have been following the politics of violence after May 3, 2023. It is for this very reason why violence and uncertainty has gripped Litan area of Ukhrul district and why Sinakeithei (Sana-keithel) continues to be in the news for all the firing it has received in the last few days. Who stands to gain by letting the violence continue and that too on two fronts ? One with the Meiteis and another one with the Nagas or to be more specific the Tangkhuls ?
It is against this reality that Chief Minister Y Khemchand has started reaching out and this is significant. With Nemcha Kipgen as the Deputy Chief Minister, the Chief Minister may just have the right person to reach out to and explore ways and means to put Manipur on the track of normalcy. This is an advantage the new Chief Minister has, though it remains to be seen how well this situation is utilised to help take Manipur to the path of normalcy. At the same time, Imphal should take serious cognizance of what is happening at Sinakeithei and in the areas around Litan and utilise all its resources at hand to rein in the armed elements who have been firing at will at Sinakeithei. At the moment, no serious effort is seen to ensure that the Imphal- Ukhrul road is opened, indicating once more that the Kuki armed elements and their cohorts continue to be treated with kid’s gloves. This is unacceptable and the Chief Minister must utilise all the resources at hand to open the route as soon as possible. Or should one be made to believe that a sort of a buffer zone too has been drawn up in Ukhrul district ?
It is against this reality that Chief Minister Y Khemchand has started reaching out and this is significant. With Nemcha Kipgen as the Deputy Chief Minister, the Chief Minister may just have the right person to reach out to and explore ways and means to put Manipur on the track of normalcy. This is an advantage the new Chief Minister has, though it remains to be seen how well this situation is utilised to help take Manipur to the path of normalcy. At the same time, Imphal should take serious cognizance of what is happening at Sinakeithei and in the areas around Litan and utilise all its resources at hand to rein in the armed elements who have been firing at will at Sinakeithei. At the moment, no serious effort is seen to ensure that the Imphal- Ukhrul road is opened, indicating once more that the Kuki armed elements and their cohorts continue to be treated with kid’s gloves. This is unacceptable and the Chief Minister must utilise all the resources at hand to open the route as soon as possible. Or should one be made to believe that a sort of a buffer zone too has been drawn up in Ukhrul district ?