Meitei Organizations Advocate for a Gun-Free Manipur, Express Gratitude to Amit Shah and Governor for Peace Efforts

Imphal:

Two prominent civil society organizations of Manipur’s Meitei community have expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla for their recent decisions aimed at restoring peace in the violence-stricken state bordering Myanmar.

The Meitei Alliance, the global umbrella body of Meitei civil society organizations, in a statement, highlighted four key steps: dismantling the drug trade network, ensuring free movement on roads and highways, taking action against extortionists, and speeding up border-fencing work.

“We deeply appreciate the decisive leadership of the Honourable Home Minister of India and the Governor of Manipur, whose recent directives mark a significant step toward restoring safety, security, and social harmony in the region,” the Meitei Alliance stated.

“One of the most crucial outcomes of this initiative has been the return of arms by civilians, who had taken up weapons to protect themselves, their families, and their communities against external Kuki terrorist threats. This act reflects a renewed trust in the central government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all citizens and preventing militant groups from targeting innocent civilians,” it added.

The Meitei Alliance noted that the Union Home Minister’s order to guarantee free movement for the public on all roads in Manipur effective March 8 would be a step toward restoring Manipur’s “age-old, multi-ethnic, and pluralistic society.”

“It will also help revive the state’s ailing economy,” the Meitei Alliance said, referring to the Centre’s order to remove obstacles and illegal ‘check posts’ from roads and highways and take action against those obstructing the free movement of civilians.

“Furthermore, the Meitei Alliance is committed to engaging with various communities in Manipur to gain a deeper understanding of their perspectives and explore pathways for peaceful coexistence. Dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation are essential in shaping a united and prosperous Manipur for future generations,” it concluded.

Manipur came under President’s rule after Chief Minister N Biren Singh and his council of ministers resigned on February 9. Following this, the Governor placed the assembly in suspended animation, leaving MLAs active but without powers.

The Association of Meiteis in the Americas (AMA), in a statement, urged the government to implement complete disarmament for a gun-free Manipur.

“The presence of illegal arms has fueled violence, disrupted harmony, and hindered the path to progress. Disarming all armed groups, regardless of affiliation, is essential in rebuilding trust, restoring law and order, and making Manipur great again,” AMA said.

“The people of Manipur deserve to live without fear, and we believe that a comprehensive disarmament strategy, along with the initiatives announced, will pave the way for lasting peace and prosperity,” it added.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla extended the one-week deadline for people from all communities to deposit looted and illegally held weapons until March 6. The previous deadline ended on February 27, the day Arambai Tenggol (AT) surrendered a large quantity of firearms to the security forces.

The AT members met Governor Bhalla before the deadline ended and agreed to hand over weapons on the condition that the security forces take full responsibility for civilians’ safety and cease firing from bunkers on hilltops dominated by the Kuki tribes.

The AT describes itself as a cultural organization that was compelled to take up arms as “village volunteers” due to ineffective law enforcement during the early days of ethnic violence. It claims the lack of law enforcement led to Meitei villages in the foothills being attacked by Kuki militants.

The Kuki tribes, however, have accused the AT of launching attacks on their villages along inter-district borders after the first wave of clashes in May 2023, forcing the Kuki tribes to arm themselves and form village defence forces.

Many AT members, including its chief Korounganba Khuman, are named as accused in police cases and those being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The valley-dominant Meitei community and over a dozen distinct tribes collectively known as Kuki, who dominate some hill areas of Manipur, have been in conflict for nearly two years over issues such as land rights and political representation. Over 250 people have been killed, and 50,000 have been internally displaced.