Manipuris from Many Communities Call for a United Approach to Restore Peace

Hyderabad: Around 500 people from different Manipuri communities, calling for solidarity, peace and harmony in the strife-torn state, congregated for a conference at Taramati Baradari here on Sunday.

The conference, organized by Hyderabad Manipuri Society (HYMS), saw the presence of people from Meitei, Naga and Meitei Pangal communities apart from Telugus.

HYMS members, who held placards demanding return of peace in the troubled region, said that violence has been wreaking havoc for over 130 days. It has claimed more than 180 lives and displaced over 70,000 people. The Centre must intervene immediately and put an end to this mayhem, they said.

Addressing the gathering, Bimol Akoijam, associate professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, said “This is the time for the Meitei community to look within and introspect on where you have to be responsive rather than reactive to the ongoing crisis. It is also necessary to be assertive rather than being aggressive while protecting one’s own community and identity. You should not succumb to intimidation by external forces, which are trying to push the community back. It is time to stand up and assert and to convert the angst and anger into a constructive weapon”.

Akoijam took exception to the media for being biased and showing only one-side of the story. It has been siding only one tribal community while turning away from the atrocities against Meiteis.

“It is important to rectify the narrative against the Meitis and tell the world about the trials and tribulations that we are facing. At the same time, one must ask why the violence has not stopped yet and why the Union government is still non-responsive,” Akoijam added.

Cyclist and social activist Rohan Philem said that this was not just a war between two communities but rather a misunderstanding. An agenda to divide the state of Manipur is at the core of the conflict, he said.

“There are 35 ethnic groups in the state. We, as Manipuris, do not want any division or separation of our motherland. We call for a united Manipur. We demand peace irrespective of our differences. I appeal to the people to act responsibly and not to post any content on social media, which will aggravate the situation”, Philem said.

Ashang Kasar, president, Indigenous People’s Forum, Manipur, said that Meiteis were meted out step-motherly treatment in their own homeland and the central government must act promptly to contain violence in Manipur.