Home Ministry names 51 to Manipur peace panel; Kukis object: no consent

Of those named by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to represent the ethnic groups, 25 are from the majority Meitei community, 11 belong to Kuki groups and 10 are from the Naga community. The Muslim and the Nepali communities will be represented by three and two members, respectively.

The peace panel is part of a series of measures, including a judicial probe panel, announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the end of his four-day visit (May 29 to June 1) to Manipur.

The committee was announced Saturday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs naming Governor Anusuiya Uikey as its chairperson and “Chief Minister N Biren Singh, a few ministers in the state, MPs, MLAs and leaders of different political parties” as its members.

While announcing the committee, the MHA also said that it will have “representatives of different ethnic groups” but gave no further details on its composition.

In an order issued by Deputy Secretary Narendra Gautam on June 10, the MHA has named the representatives. The political leaders named in the order are: State ministers Y Khemchand and Nemcha Kipgen; Lok Sabha MP Lorho S Pfoze; BJP Manipur unit chief Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi; former minister and JD (U) leader Md Abdul Nasir; CPI leader Dr Moirangthem Nara, and MLAs T Shanti Singh and K Ranjit Singh.

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Nearly 60 persons were killed in Manipur since ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities last Wednesday. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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The clashes broke out during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March,’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur, against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a Manipur HC directive. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Clashes between the two groups were first reported in an area bordering Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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As the situation worsened the next day, the state’s Home Department issued “shoot-at-sight” orders “in extreme cases”. (Express Photo by Jimmy Leivon)

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Following these clashes, Chief Minister N Biren Singh held an all-party meeting, and a video conference with security personnel calling for calm and an end to violence. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, a Gurukul Art student in Mumbai is seen painting an appeal to stop the violence. (PTI Photo)

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The governments of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttarakhand have been rushing to get their residents out of Manipur as soon as possible as violence continues to engulf the state. (PTI Photo)

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Over 100 columns of Army and Assam Rifles have been working since 96 hours in order to significantly enhance the surveillance capability in Manipur. (PTI Photo)

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The clashes led the people of Manipur raise slogans marking a protest against the violence at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

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The SC has taken note of the assurance given by the Centre and Manipur government that steps were taken to control the situation in Manipur under control. Here, Army and Assam Rifles personnel can be seen assisting people of violence-hit areas, at a relief camp. (PTI Photo)

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The curfew, imposed after the violence broke out, was relaxed from 5 am to 8 am in Imphal West district to allow people buy essential items. (PTI Photo)

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In this picture, health workers can be seen giving free medicines to people from violence-hit areas of Manipur at a relief camp setup by the Assam Government, in Cachar district of Assam. (PTI Photo)

The civil society will be represented by two retired professors of Manipur University, the chairman of the Bar Council of Manipur, five social workers and retired government officials. The committee has also included former Director General of Police P Doungel.

“Some of the presidents of the organisations are in the peace committee – Ajay Khongsai, President (Kuki Inpi Manipur), David K Shimray, President (Tangkhul Naga Long), Lourembam Nganbi, President (Apuna Manipur Kanba Ima Lup), Hrila Hmar, working President (Hmar Tribe Council), RK Sanahambi, President (Kanglei Ima Lup), K Suanthang, President (Paite Tribe Council), Awangbow Newmai, President (the Naga People’s Front), Lourembam Memchoubi, President (Poirei Leimarol Meria Paibi Apubna), S M Jalal, President (All Manipur Muslim Organisations Coordinating Committee), Md Rajauddin, President (Manipuri Muslim Council Moreh), R Machundoubou, President (Joint Tribe Council, Zeliangrong Council),” Gautam said.

When his comments were sought, retired Indian Defence Accounts Service officer J Lhungdim told The Indian Express over phone that his name had been included in the committee without his consent. “This is an important question as without my consent, why and how did they add my name to the peace committee. I have spoken with several Kuki representatives and they told me that their names were also added to the committee without talking to them and they are also not happy with this act.”

“I believe it’s not going to work this way and the Central government should be part of this committee, instead of leaving everything on Chief Minister N Biren Singh,” he said.

Lhungdim said that he worked under the then Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, and was also a part of a team which went to Russia to finalise an arms deal in 2016. “We have worked hard for our country and now we are being called foreigners by CM Singh. I came to Manipur on May 2 and the Central government has failed to prevent the issue in the state,” he said.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), in a statement, condemned the inclusion of the Chief Minister in the Peace Committee.

“The creation of such a Peace Committee… by the Central government must be made only after conditions of normalcy and security for Kuki-tribal villages have been secured for a certain period of time. At present, more than 160 Kuki-Zo villages have been burnt and continue to be under constant attack from Meitei militants,” Ginza Vualzong of the ITLF said in a statement.

L Adino Mao, a former president of the United Naga Council, the apex civil body of the Nagas in Manipur, said he came to know of his “appointment” to the panel through social media and that he had “not been consulted”.

“I am yet to receive any official communication about my appointment in the peace committee,” he said.

Ph Nando Luwang, president of the All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO), a Meitei organisation, said over phone that the formation of the peace committee was a “positive step”.

“I was informed today by the Home department that I am a member of the peace committee… Things will become clear once the committee chairperson calls a meeting in the coming days,” he said.

While laying out the task for the peace panel, the MHA said it will “help establish peace, social and communal harmony among various ethnic groups and promote a sense of security in the general public”.

“The committee should facilitate the peacemaking process among various ethnic groups of the state, including peaceful dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties/groups. The committee should strengthen social cohesiveness, mutual understanding and facilitate cordial communication between various ethnic groups,” it said.