Reading the Lines Between CM Biren’s Fresh Appeals to Avoid Misunderstanding Between Communities

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today made a fresh appeal to the people to avoid any misunderstanding between communities. Singh said that peace is slowly being restored in the state and it was time to maintain patience.

“You are here and everybody has seen that peace is restoring slowly. In the meantime, I want to appeal to everyone not to create any misunderstanding between the communities. Everyone has to keep silence. We have to wait and watch what the government is doing because the need of the hour is peace,” said CM N. Biren Singh.

However, the ground situation here tells otherwise. Buffer Zones and Line of Control between the hills and valley is still enforced strictly which only manifests the absence of peace and normalcy in the state. The claim of CM N. Biren Singh that peace is being restored slowly in the state seems a mere illusion as no one from the Kuki areas can enter the valley district and vice-versa.

Peace in Manipur is still a distant dream as the valley itself is still devoid of normalcy. His private militia gangs are still running the show. Numerous cases of looting, abduction, kidnapping, torture and threats have been reported on a daily basis from the valley. The hills, too are always under constant threat from Meitei militant attacks. His definition of ‘peace’ is incomprehensible.

It is to be noted here that, whenever the chief minister makes an appeal publicly, attacks on Kukis follow the very next day. This pattern has been witnessed since the violence broke out in the state of Manipur on the 3rd of May. So, the chief minister’s public appeal could only mean to signify that an imminent attack against the Kukis is just round the corner.

Stating that the valley and the hill people are inseparable, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also informed that the guest house for tribal chiefs from the hills is ready in Imphal. He said that that tribal chiefs from the hill district can now avail the facility in the state capital. This is being seen as a big confidence building measure amid the unrest. However, the hill and the valley people have been already separated since the 3rd May and the separation was complete when the mortal remains of the Kukis who had been lying at morgues in Imphal were flown back to their respective district. The emotional and physical separation is complete and the only way for peace to return is to grant separate administration for the Kukis so that they can live peacefully with their neighbours Meiteis.

“When we formed government in the state in 2017, we decided to construct one guest house particularly for the hill chiefs. The people of Hill and Valley are inseparable. Politically and historically, we are all brothers and sisters. Whenever the people from the hill districts come to Imphal, they look for hotels or accommodations to stay. However, Imphal is a small area which does not have enough space or hotels. That is why we decided to construct one guest house, so that they do not have to keep looking for hotels and rooms and can stay directly in that guest house,” said the Chief Minister.

The chief minister is known to have bragged about his government’s activities which in reality does not bear fruit. Now, what’s the point in having guest house for hill chiefs when none of them can travel to Imphal anymore. Travelling to Imphal for the Kukis is now as good as death. The Meiteis too will not have the audacity to travel to the Kuki areas. Many Meitei CSOs and personalities have made a promise to visit Kuki dominated areas, but none have come so far. This highlights the deepening divide between the Kukis and Meiteis.

Interestingly, on December 21, the Home Department of the Government of Manipur issued a public notice for the deployment of additional forces along Imphal-Kangpokpi-Mao highway and Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur highway for the convenience and security of the people.

The Government also appointed two senior police officers to monitor the two routes wherein the convoy (trucks/vehicles) will start moving from 9:00 am onwards.
Movement of the convoy (trucks/vehicles) with the deployment of additional forces under the command of the two appointed senior police officers will be effective from December 23.

However, a public notice issued by ITLF states that they have received intelligence inputs about an imminent threat from the Meitei to disrupt the Christmas season, thereby sealing the border from December 23 till 24 January, 2024. The home department’s Public Notice has also been opposed by Kanggui based Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU).

“It would be wise on the part of Meitei civilians to tread with care when tensions are high and not to be misled by the sugar-coated policies of the Manipur state government and Biren’s insidious appeal,” added the CoTU’s statement.