Manipur ethnic groups sit for talks with Centre, ‘draft’ pact circulated

Representatives from two valley-based civil society organisations (CSOs), All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), and delegates from Kuki-Zo organisations, the Kuki-Zo Council and the Zomi Council, attended the meeting which was led by A K Mishra, MHA’s advisor on North East affairs.

This is the first time that organisations from both sides of the current ethnic divide have formally held a dialogue since the start of the ongoing conflict in May 2023.

Last October, the MHA had convened a meeting of a set of Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga MLAs from the state but the Kuki-Zo MLAs said that they did not meet the MLAs of the other communities and only met the MHA officials separately.

Delegates said that at Saturday’s meeting, the officials presented a draft ‘agreement’ or joint resolution for consideration by both sides. This included an “appeal to their people” to refrain from violence against members of the other community and urging the administration to take action against those violating this; an assurance of cooperation in the recovery of arms; urging people to enable “free movement of traffic” on highways.

Apart from this, the ‘draft agreement’ also included welcoming initiatives to facilitate the return of displaced people to their respective places with logistics and security by the government; and an “appeal” to the Governor to “prioritise” development work in areas neglected during the conflict. The crucial last point was that “all long term and contentious issues will be taken up with the GOI (MHA) for resolution through dialogue and consultation with the communities.”

“After discussion and deliberation from both sides, the officials drafted these six points to implement in the state. On our part, we gave our consent and agreed to these because we wanted no conflict. However, from the Kuki-Zo side, they were unwilling to give their consent,” AMUCO president Pheiroijam Nando Luwang said.

However, Kuki-Zo Council chairman Henlianthang Thanglet called the meeting “very historic”.

“It is not a matter of not agreeing. This was the first such meeting and we have to take time and reach out again to our people. We can’t just go ahead and sign an agreement when there are victims on both sides because if something happens to our people, we will be answerable,” he said.

Kuki-Zo groups have been pressing for a separative administrative structure from the valley-based state government as a “solution” to the current conflict.

“Among our concerns is that cessation of hostilities can be done but only on the condition that the ‘free movement’ between districts is not imposed and that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is imposed in all the valley districts. Because we have apprehensions that people from the valley can enter our areas and attack us. And dialogue for a lasting solution has to start,” he said.

On March 11 and 12, an MHA delegation led by Mishra had met separately with Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur. In Imphal, it had also met the Meitei group COCOMI.

In a statement Saturday, the COCOMI said it had “declined to participate” in the meeting, calling it a “yet another tactical manoeuvre to fabricate an illusion of progress, conveniently timed to furnish talking points for the Home Minister’s parliamentary address.”

In both Houses of Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attributed the situation in the state to “interpretations” of the Manipur High Court’s order on the subject of ST status of Meiteis and that representatives of both communities would meet in Delhi.