The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– November 17, 2023; Day 495

Widening divide: On how little has changed in Manipur  

Peace in Manipur cannot be restored by half-measures

Six months after a violent conflagration (A very intense and uncontrolled fire) set in motion an ethnic conflict in Manipur, little has changed in bridging the divide between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities and in reducing the hostility (Violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked). Every few days there is a violent occurrence or a provocative move from partisans (Devoted to a cause or party) on either side of the conflict, which heightens tensions and widens the divide even further with nothing being done to reverse the course and bring back normalcy to areas most prone (likely to suffer from something) to violence. The announcement, on Wednesday, by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), which represents Kuki-Zo groups, that it is pursuing “self-rule” with a separate “chief minister” in districts dominated by the tribal community, points to yet another hardening (to become less likely to change) of stances (the opinions that somebody expresses publicly about something) that has prolonged (Lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer) the conflict. Such a move, which has no legal basis, is also bound to enrage Meiteis, especially those whose key grievances include the special land ownership rights to tribals in the State’s hill districts. That the announcement came just a week after an Intelligence Bureau team and Ministry of Home Affairs officials held meetings in Churachandpur is an indication that the Union government is losing the plot in Manipur. The government has tried to keep a tenuous (Lacking substance or significance) peace going by not enacting any change in the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led State government even after its failures in maintaining law and order. A leadership change has been a key demand by the Kuki-Zo community representatives besides others. The Union government has meanwhile relied upon paramilitary forces to quell (to end something) the violence in areas adjoining the Imphal valley and the hill areas. It has taken a recourse (Act of turning to for assistance) to provisions of Article 355 to maintain peace, despite denying its imposition (the act of introducing something such as a new law or rule) in the State.

This ploy has ostensibly (according to what seems or is stated to be real or true, when this is perhaps not the case) been undertaken to retain the support of Meitei partisans who have refused to allow any change of leadership in the State government and also to address the Kuki-Zo people’s distrust of the State police. Yet, the outcome has been a sharpening of the divide with partisans on either side raging against these half-measures. In the absence of a clear détente (an improvement in the relationship between two or more parties that have been unfriendly toward each other in the past) and the beginning of a dialogue process to rebuild an enduring peace and fraternal (connected with the relationship that exists between people or groups that share the same ideas or interests) relations between the communities that would facilitate the return of people, even sporadic (Recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances) incidents have exacerbated (Make worse) the situation, making peace-building daunting (Discouraging through fear). Unless the BJP’s central leadership changes its stubborn (determined not to change your opinion or attitude) strategy of maintaining a discreet (careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret) silence while using administrative ploys to contain the conflict, the festering (becoming worse over a period of time) in Manipur is bound to continue.

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