The yarn about return of peace Acknowledging the reality
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The truth should not be lost or misunderstood. The absence of gunfire or the absence of direct confrontation or bloodshed cannot be equated to peace. The guns between the Kukis and the Meiteis have gone silent for some time now but can this be taken to mean that the first few steps towards normalcy have been initiated between the two communities ? To proclaim and even think that peace has started returning between the two communities would be missing the trees for the woods for the facts at the ground say something else. Remember the uproar witnessed at RIMS just a few days back when it came to be known that three injured Kuki men have been admitted at the hospital after being brought under heavy security escort. Remember the manner in which the three Kuki men had to be shifted to Churachandpur in the dead of the night following the massive build up of opposition. And even as strong opposition was raised against the admission of the three Kuki men at RIMS, it stands that even after more than three years no Meitei, and now Naga, would feel safe and secure to go to Dimapur by road via Kangpokpi. Memory of the Meitei man being gunned down, even as he pleaded for his life with folded hands must still be fresh in the minds of many, as the video clip of the gunning down of the man had gone viral on the social media. This was in Churachandpur some time back. Over 60 thousand continue to languish in different relief centres set up across the length and breadth of the State and when one talks about the displaced people one cannot help but note with disdain that the Kuki Inpi, Manipur has identified the 60 thousand displaced people as Kuki folks. A good number of Meiteis too have been displaced, this is on record and they are primarily from Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Moreh and foothill areas, which lie on areas bordering Kuki settlements. These are facts, the truth that can be verified by just taking a look around and it does not make any sense to say that peace, as understood universally, has started returning to the valley area. Guns going silent can never be equated to peace and this is a fact that will stand the universal understanding of peace and normalcy. This is not to say the absence of gunfire is not welcome but this cannot be taken to mean that everything is fine. A small change, one may say, but what steps has Imphal taken up or is mulling to take this further ? One hopes the guns going silent is not interpreted in the way movement on the National Highway was interpre- ted some time back, when people travelling with huge security escorts, claimed that movement is free and without danger. This sounded like a lame attempt to give credence to the announcement of the Kuki-Zo Council some time back that ‘The highways have never been blocked, but we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone.’
The conflict situation is today three way and it would be politically, socially and even ethically wrong to segregate this as clashes in the hills and valley. Manipur is still very much in the grip of a conflict situation. The guns may have gone silent in some areas, but absence of violence cannot be equated to peace or normalcy. This is what Manipur should be sensitive about. And failing to be sensitive to the truth would amount to an admission that the truth and reality of the situation here is yet to be understood. This could be one significant reason for the situation to drag on for over three years. It is the failure, wittingly or unwittingly, to understand and acknowledge the reality that can be said to be the primary reason for the situation to drag on like this for so long. Imphal and Delhi need to acknowledge that normalcy is till far from normal and the guns going silent may just turn out to be the proverbial lull before the storm. The task at hand should be to acknowledge the truth, the reality and see how to capitalise on the silence of the guns. The recent incident at RIMS, the uproar raised at Namdilong along the Imphal-Dimapur highway, are all indicators of where Manipur exactly stands at the moment and lest the Government at Imphal forgets, the Imphal-Ukhrul road has been shut for over a month now. This is far removed from any situation that can be called normal.
The conflict situation is today three way and it would be politically, socially and even ethically wrong to segregate this as clashes in the hills and valley. Manipur is still very much in the grip of a conflict situation. The guns may have gone silent in some areas, but absence of violence cannot be equated to peace or normalcy. This is what Manipur should be sensitive about. And failing to be sensitive to the truth would amount to an admission that the truth and reality of the situation here is yet to be understood. This could be one significant reason for the situation to drag on for over three years. It is the failure, wittingly or unwittingly, to understand and acknowledge the reality that can be said to be the primary reason for the situation to drag on like this for so long. Imphal and Delhi need to acknowledge that normalcy is till far from normal and the guns going silent may just turn out to be the proverbial lull before the storm. The task at hand should be to acknowledge the truth, the reality and see how to capitalise on the silence of the guns. The recent incident at RIMS, the uproar raised at Namdilong along the Imphal-Dimapur highway, are all indicators of where Manipur exactly stands at the moment and lest the Government at Imphal forgets, the Imphal-Ukhrul road has been shut for over a month now. This is far removed from any situation that can be called normal.