Manipur: 1 more killed; both Meitei and Kuki groups say will stay away from peace panel

The incident took place on the same day that Governor Anusuiya Uikey, who heads the 51-member peace committee announced by the Centre on Saturday, visited Churachandpur and went to three relief camps to take stock of the situation. This was her first visit to the district since violence began in the state on May 3.

Apart from the firing in Churachandpur, there was also an exchange of fire in the border area between Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts — eight people were reportedly injured.

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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)

Amid the continuing violence, Chief Minister N Biren Singh appealed for peace. “We understand that people across the state are reeling under untold hardship due to the present crisis. But it is about time to take a step back and give peace a chance. Let us not be driven by emotion. Let the government handle the situation,” he said.

However, groups representing both Kuki-Zomi and Meitei communities expressed a lack of faith in the leadership and said they would not participate in the deliberations of the peace committee.

The recently formed ‘Core Committee on Separate Administration’ — which includes MLAs representing Kuki-Zomi communities and tribal bodies such as the Kuki Inpi Manipur, the Zomi Council and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum — issued a directive on Monday, stating that “no CSOs [civil society organisation], tribe bodies and individuals shall participate in the peace committee”.

“Even though peace has been our earnest desire, to talk about peace in the shadow of continued violence, exploitation and oppression is an exercise which will prove futile. And to include N Biren Singh, the main perpetrator of this violence, as member of the peace committee in itself is an insult to the Zomi, Kuki, Hmar and Mizo communities,” said a statement issued by them.

Separately, Kuki Inpi Manipur, the president of which was made a member of the peace committee, said it did not have “an iota of hope and confidence in the peace committee formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs where… CM N Biren Singh is accorded membership…”

Even the COCOMI, an umbrella body of Meitei CSOs, whose chief coordinator is also a member of the peace committee, expressed displeasure over the composition of the committee. It said it would not participate on the grounds that “it is not the right time to join the committee”, stating that “attacks by ‘narco-terrorists’ wielding sophisticated weapons still continue”.

The events of Monday come after North East Democratic Alliance convener and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met leaders of two rebel groups that come under the Suspension of Operations agreement — the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front — in Guwahati on Sunday night.

While KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip described it as a “very positive meeting”, he said there was “no cohesion” between talks with leaders and the reality on the ground.

“The reason he met us was because in his recent visit to Manipur, he was only able to meet valley-based CSOs. There, he had met with a CSO called COCOMI and they were able to come to an agreement on subsiding the ongoing violence, that both parties should desist from engaging in offences. We also made a similar understanding that if one side does not attack, the other will not reciprocate. But today again, there were incidents of violence,” he said.