Manipur Violence

Context:

The Union Home Ministry has told the members of the Kuki-Zo Council that a cessation of violence is a pre-requisite to initiate any political dialogue in Manipur. The tribal leaders insisted that this cannot be a one-sided demand.

Manipur Violence

Violent communal clashes have erupted in Manipur after the Manipur High Court (HC) ordered the State to take up a 10-year-old recommendation to accord Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the non-tribal Meitei community.

The violence broke out after the All-Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) had called a “tribal solidarity rally” against the alleged move to include the Meiteis on the ST list.

• Geographical and Ethnic Perspective
  • Meiteis dominate the central region, the Impal Valley, which has 40% of the state assembly seats.
  • Hills constitute 90% of the state’s area, and more than 35% of the identified tribal groups reside in the hills, including the Naga and Kuki tribes.
  • Largely Hindus, with significant numbers of Muslims; the other side is the Christian tribes such as Naga and Kuki.
• Demographic Discrepancy
  • The Meiteis have lost this percentage to decline from 59% in 1951 to 44% in 2011.
  • The Meiteis apprehend changes in demography due to tribal movements and influxes, especially from Myanmar.
• Meitei Argument for ST Status
  • The Meitei community wants ST status to protect their land, traditions, culture, and language.
  • They fear losing their land in the Impal Valley, which they claim is under threat from growing tribal populations that can buy land in the valley.
• Opposition of Tribal Groups to Meitei ST Status
  • Tribal groups argue that granting ST status to the Meiteis will reduce their access to job opportunities and land rights in the hills.
  • Meiteis already benefit from SC, OBC, and EWS categories, and their language is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Procedure for Inclusion in the ST List
  • The state government makes a recommendation to include tribes in the ST list.
  • The recommendation is forwarded to the Cabinet for approval. Upon approval, an amendment bill is introduced in Parliament to amend the Constitutional (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
• Recent Violence in Manipur
  • Eviction from the forest, the delimitation process, and the refugees from Myanmar have been the roots of violence.
  • Traditionally, Meitei had been divided with the tribals, and this has only intensified with the Kuki-Zomi groups’ militarization in the 1990s.
• Geography and History of Violence
  • Traditionally, the valley has been at the heart of the Kangleipak Kingdom controlled by the Meiteis.
  • The Kuki and Naga tribes have clashed against them violently for decades.

Way Forward: Possible Solutions and Recommendations

• Increase Surveillance
  • Increase surveillance on the Myanmar border.
• Peace Agreements
  • Engage in talks with local insurgent groups to settle for peace.
• AFSPA Repeal
  • The Armed Forces Special Powers Act must be repealed as it improves human rights and decreases militarization.

Kuki-Zo People

Known also as the Kuki-Zo people, the Kuki people are an ethnic group found in Northeastern India in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, besides neighboring Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is one of the biggest hill tribes communities in the country except Arunachal Pradesh.