EDITORIAL: Widening racial divide – Telangana Today

The crisis in Manipur requires a long-term strategy to ensure the physical, social, cultural and economic security of both communities

Manipur remains in the midst of racial violence, a narrative largely dominated by extremist voices on both sides of the divide. More than 120 people were killed and 70,000 people displaced by the massive arson and destruction. Mistrust has grown between the mainly Hindu Maitai community in the plains and the Koukis, a mostly Christian hill tribe. The crisis has once again exposed the fragility of the social fabric in the Northeast, requiring long-term strategies to ensure the physical, social, cultural, and economic security of both communities. Unfortunately, state and central governments have so far failed to make any progress in their efforts to return to normalcy. People in the sensitive border state were less than happy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent on the raging violence. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive rehabilitation program to alleviate the individual and collective suffering of the people of Manipur. The current dispute is reminiscent of the Nagasaki conflict in the 1990s. The ongoing violence, if allowed to continue, will only deepen the fault lines. The ongoing conflict has multiple triggers – land rights, illegal immigration and the Manipur High Court order regarding the Metai community’s scheduled tribal status. Finding optimal solutions remains elusive unless the underlying characteristics of current ethnic conflicts are understood. The state must reassert its authority as the primary arbiter of differences between ethnic groups.

This will require a credible political leadership seen by all communities as neutral. Leadership must also be aware that rhetoric that appears to target minorities increases fear and may fuel violence. An honest attempt must be made to find answers to the questions of identity (social, economic, aspirational) and resource sharing that plague different communities. In an atmosphere deeply divided in the state, the center must take the lead in reassuring the local community. The failure of the peace commission set up by the state shows that reconciliation can work better with outside intervention from New Delhi. In addition to having the matter investigated by the Central Judicial Council, a civil society peace committee is needed to investigate the differences between Kuxi and Mingting. These conflicts have resulted in avoidable loss of life and suffering, including the displacement of countless families in the Jiuxi and Mingting communities. The deeper underlying causes of the violence can be seen in economic indicators over the decades. In 1993, Manipur had the highest per capita income of the eight northeastern states, but it remains the lowest today. The solution to peaceful coexistence must be found by the people of Manipur themselves.