It’s about Manipur
Context:
- Political candidates should not take advantage of the sexual assault video. That exacerbates the state’s many wounds.
Introduction:
- Manipur has been on fire for almost three months and thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes with no hope of returning. There have been more than a hundred fatalities. It is important to consider the prolonged wave of violence and the months-long impunity mobs have had when analyzing the sexual assault of Kuki-Zomi women on May 4.
- According to one of the survivors who spoke to this magazine, the savagery of the crime, which was seen on camera, as well as the fact that police officers were present, horrified the nation.
What is the cause of the prolonged bloodshed?
- First, the rule of law has not been able to be restored by either the state or the federal governments. More than 30,000 security personnel from paramilitary units arrived in Manipur in May. More soldiers were sent in the past month. But the violence has continued unabatedly.
- Second, the internet blackout that was in effect during the first week of May and covered broadband services is still in effect. In an effort to stop the spread of misleading information on social media, the government decided to restrict internet access. But over time, it has harmed more people than helped. Rumors, hate speech, and fake news have proliferated because there is no internet connection to verify the veracity of the material.
- Third, the conflict has dragged on even longer as a result of easy access to firearms and ammunition, which are typically utilized for self-defense. Thanks to theft from the government’s armory and the uncontrolled flow of guns from the Myanmar border, the bulk of local volunteer organizations are armed. For self-defense, young men are trained how to use firearms and build shelters.
Enough damage has been caused:
- The common people in both towns have gone through horrible hardships over the last two months. Both men and women have had to endure having to live in continual terror for their lives, lands, and possessions in violent locations.
- They haven’t enjoyed a restful night’s sleep or a leisurely lunch in more over two months. During this planting season, they have been unable to grow rice, the state’s main crop. As a result, 2013 is now a concern due to famine.
Going forward:
- As Parliament reconvenes on Monday, the nation anticipates comments from those in charge in Imphal and New Delhi. How do they plan to communicate with the opposition, talk about how to bridge the gap between communities, and restart the administration?
- The response in neighboring Mizoram, where a local faction has threatened the Meitei people there, shows that Manipur’s faultlines can indeed lead to issues outside of its own borders. Since many villages have kinship ties to ethnic groups in Myanmar, which is mired in its own conflict, there is also a transnational element.
Conclusion:
- The Centre has made progress in recent years in terms of improving infrastructure, raising expectations for better economic prospects, and improving communication with the area. It needs to stop using Manipur as a talking point since doing so exacerbates the problem and damages the state even more.
