Biren and His Cabinet Has No Moral and Ethical Right to Make Decision Over the Kukis

The recent violent protest in the valley and the government’s efficiency in handling the situation was indeed a shock to my numb soul after the continual mainstream silence and government’s deliberate inactions against perpretrators of heinous and barbaric crimes against more than 40 Kuki-Zo women and children. It made one ponder as to if it was okay to commit heinous crimes as the government and its agencies turned a blind eye to the heinous crimes committed by Meitei armed militants during this ethnic conflict. It turns out it was okay for the government and the mainstream people if it is done to the KuKi-Zo and not the Meitei; their moral compass is victim-identity driven. As much as we are happy for present victims and their families that the government stood up for them, the other reality is that it highlights the plight of Kuki-Zo victims and the glaring disparity of attention and action received by their counterparts.

Thus, does the government of Manipur have the moral and ethical right to derive their power from the same constitution it has stepped over repeatedly? Mr. Biren and his cabinet must remember that they took the oath of allegiance to the constitution of India as by law established, and the oath taken in Kangla Fort has no legal standing. Every resolution or law they implement must thus conform within the ideals, values and principles as enshrined in the constitution. The latest resolution passed by the Biren-led cabinet is discriminatory, oppressive, and vindictive, violating the ideals, values, principles and rights enshrined and guaranteed in the constitution. Thus why should Kuki-Zo respect and honour a government that stepped over their constitutional, legal, democratic and human rights?

It is not known as to if the territorial expansion strategy of Arambai Tenggol and other VBiGs can pass the test of the court of law as right to property is a constitutional legal right, but their provocation of the Kuki-Zo in the fringes in their quest to conquer more land rather is the root cause of the conflict. Thus mass operation against Meitei militants responsible for the killing of 218 Kuki-Zo, arson of more than 360 worship places, 200 villages and 7000 houses, and the displacement of thousands from their homes and villages would rather have been the right approach. But now their resolution for the mass operation towards the Kuki-Zo is rather suspicious. With the history of close nexus between VBIGs and Manipur Meitei police in committing heinous crimes and driving the Kuki-Zo away from their homes, how can the Kuki-Zo be assured that it is not an excuse to drive them away from their land yet again? How can they be assured it is not an excuse to commit heinous crime against them?

For Mr. Biren and his cabinets, the looting of arms and ammunition from the state armoury is not a threat to law and order as the Kuki-Zo community will be the at the receiving end. To them, the frequent participation of UNLF(P) in attacking the Kukis is within the conformity of SoO agreement as they don’t attack the Meiteis and the dire situation of militancy in the valley whereby bombs are even recovered in educational institutions and hospitals is an internal problem of Meiteis, not a law and order issue. The ever increasing extortion might as well be a means of wealth distribution in Manipur for them. Thus, they think the imposition of AFSPA in the valley district needs a review. As recently as during their so called public protest to attack their MLAs, 32 pistols and 7 rounds of ammunition were recovered, but for them all is well in the valley. The hypocrisy of the government of Manipur and the people of the valley is astonishing as they consider that imposition of AFSPA is against human rights if imposed in the valley but not if it is imposed in the hills!

The resolution therefore is as Biren always is - targeting and vindictive of the Kukis to unleash his oppressive regime towards them. Peace for the Meiteis is the complete surrender of Kukis and them apologising towards their oppressors, murderers and rapist with a guarantee that they will never voice and fight against the injustice like they had fought in the past and they will meet in the future, to which Kukis will prefer death over their so called peace. Thus to expect justice for Kukis under Mr. Biren and presently in Manipur is to expect human rights for Jews from Hitler and German society then. When Biren himself is the biggest threat to law and order in Manipur, people expecting peace in Manipur under his regime are as gullible as Muslims who expect women rights under Taliban.

Self defence is the only option left for the Kukis in their fight for Justice. Zairawn village incident is the reminder why Kukis can’t trust the peace process initiated by Biren. Our women, children and our lands are not safe under his government-controlled agencies. Thus Like Mahatma Gandhi said, “Though violence is not lawful, when it is offered in self defence or for the defence of the defenceless, it is an act of bravery far better than cowardly submission. The letter befits neither man or woman…”, every Kuki has the right to live with dignity, right to equality, liberty and justice. One dark incident will not define their relentless fight to protect what is rightfully theirs and the safety of their women and children.