Following the outbreak of communal violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups, the problem in the state of Manipur remained volatile and stressful, as it solidified the wider agendas of both communities and revealed much-needed political messes in the state that everything is not well. Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups defined the ongoing crisis using the approach of equality and fear, with the Meiteis keen to expand their area and dominate, this time through a potent proxy: fear of marginalization and the desire for protection through India’s Scheduled Tribes (ST) classification/status. While the Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups successfully redefined and politicized a moral high ground ready to legitimize their claims, particularly the present Kuki-inhibited areas, this time through a formidable proxy: the dread of remaining within Manipur and demanding a separate administration under the constitution of India.
In the present-day Manipur state, there are three major ethnic groups belonging to Sino-Tibeto or Tibeto-Burman stocks — Meiteis, Nagas, and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups — the first being the largest in terms of population – account for about 53% of the State’s total population of 2.85 million (2011 census) mostly concentrated in the Imphal valley of 700 Square miles which accounts for 10% of total state area, while the remaining 90% of state’s geographical area belongs to the Nagas, Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo, and others. The latter two are listed as Scheduled Tribes (ST) in India, and the current crisis stems from a rising demand by the Meiteis to be included in the ST list as well – an approach opposed by both Nagas and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups.
The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur is not the first and will not be the last due to various layered relations between ethnic groups and a highly politicized issue in the state ranging from deep mistrust toward each other, development disparities, and, on the other hand, fraternity feelings. For example, the state has seen many conflict / bloody situations in the past, such as the Kuki-Naga ethnic conflict in 1992-1993 arising from a “claim and counterclaim of strips of community land”; the 1993 communal riots between Meiteis and Meitei Pangal (Meitei Muslim); the 1997-1998 Kuki-Paite ethnic clash resulted from the Kuki National Front (KNF) shooting dead 10 people and injuring 5 others under the guise that the Saikul Paite Zomi village was providing shelter to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), which the villagers flatly denied, as well as tensions over the use of the Kuki or Zomi nomenclature; and the June 18, 2001 incident where the Meities people erupted in protest against the inclusion of three words — “without territorial limit” — in the ceasefire agreement (also known a Bangkok Pact/Declaration) between Government of India (GoI) and the Naga people represented by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). In defiance of Nagas’ desire for territorial integration of all the Naga areas, the then-state government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh arbitrarily established seven additional districts in Manipur, despite objections from Nagas, in a proxy move aimed at administrative convenience. Thus, with the creation of the new district, it appears to have achieved the long-held goal of splitting Naga land in order to legitimize Kukis’ claims, fuelling hatred/hostility between the Nagas on one side and the Kukis-Meiteis on the other.
While every ethnic group is attempting to gain something from the alliance politics, the alliance politics among the various ethnic group in the state are such that it is a loosely fitted alliance politics of convenience and gain based on specific causes/issues, and nothing as such lasting partnership. Some of the alliance approaches are, for example, Nagas and Kukis are united in opposing the inclusion of Meiteis into the ST category; Meiteis will undoubtedly oppose granting a separate administration to the Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups; Nagas will not allow any Naga ancestral areas to be included in any Kuki land claims for the establishment of a separate Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo administration; and Meiteis and Kukis will go to any length to attack or resist the Naga people’s demands for the merger of Naga territorial areas, as they have in the past. On the other hand, some Meiteis and Nagas, viewed Kukis to be “illegal migrants,” referring to them as “refugees.” Without a doubt, the situation in Manipur reveals the magnitude of the animosity and mistrust that exists among the many ethnic communities.
It would not be incorrect to say that both Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo have utilized various playing cards as a cover in the recent conflict – under the alliance of tribal, Christian, Hindu, and Indigenous. What is more alarming is the Union Government of India’s (GoI) inability to control the situation, the magnitude of the crisis, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi’s silence on Manipur violence, which has raised numerous questions about whether the Union government is directly or indirectly involved in the crisis by taking sides and attempting to create roadblocks as well against the Nagas aspiration (rather than seriously attempting to resolve the historical Indo-Naga conflict, the GoI agencies seems to be busy in creating a Naga conundrum) by attempting to grant the demands of both Meiteis and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups – the question remains on how the GoI will proceed. Furthermore, achieving long-term peace may be impossible against such a backdrop unless a significant diagnosis is performed to comprehend the issue and a dialogue between the Meities, Nagas, and Kuki-Zomi/Chin-Mizo groups of presenting historical facts on traditional territorial boundaries is carried out – a simple diagnosis to tackle the situation is insufficient, and simply not enough.
Author’s Disclosure Statement: Augustine R. is an independent researcher on the India-Naga-Myanmar political conflict, as well as on broader global security and strategic issues. He is also the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of the International Council of Naga Affairs (ICNA) web publication platform and does not work for, consult for, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article/opinion.
Featured Image: Vehicles set ablaze after a clash broke out in Manipur / ANI
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