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.

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.