As both Meitei and Kuki groups have rejected the Peace Committee initiated by the Union Home Ministry, we wonder whether the ministry has done a proper homework and consultation process before constituting the committee. We understand that, Union Home Minister Amit Shah after assessing various dimensions and the evolving scenario seeks to bring the warring groups to the table and thrash out contentious issues so as to usher in peace and normalcy in the state. However, he seems to have entirely misread the complexity of the situation.
Although, it is too early to say that whether the enmity between the warring groups has reached a point of no return we must say it is nearing that point. Just as the Kukis are pushing for a separate administration in the wake of war on drugs and illegals from across the border, an assertion of Meitei identity not seen before has come to the fore as a result of the conflict.
Even politics have become so polarised that politicians and MLAs are forced to form groupings under ethnic identities. Not only the politicians or representatives, even the civil society organisations are coming under the radar of public anger. In view of the charged atmosphere, nobody dares to speak of peace or against the ethnic assertions. As we said before, the ghosts that vested interests had unleashed in pursuit of their aims and objectives had taken control now, and politicians and CSO leaders have suddenly become very careful and cautious as not to antagonise the mob.
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It is at such a juncture that the Peace Committee was constituted and the rejection by COCOMI, Kuki Inpi Manipur and COTU is not a surprise. Rather, it turned out to be a case of jumping the gun. The state Governor Anusuiya Uikey would have been certainly embarrassed by the turn of events, as she is by all means keen to resolve the crisis and bring peace and normalcy in the state. For a peace process to work, for the present we need neutral referees and persons who genuinely believe in peace.
In the present circumstances and emotional state of the public, it would be difficult to find persons ready to stick their necks out for the cause of peace between the warring camps as the level of political polarisation has reached a point where angels fear to tread. However, we must understand that there are persons genuinely interested in peace in every community and what is required is the skill to find and identifying them.
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And also, one needs to look into the principles of conflict resolution while dealing with the present situation. In conflict resolution, confidence building measures and steps aimed at unwinding the trauma faced by the victims and their families as well as the collective trauma of the general population should precede any peace initiative. We have been saying that as a first step, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be most welcome. Since the outbreak of the conflict on May 3, wild narratives have been flying around and it is these narratives which have been constantly fuelling the public sentiment and anger.
