To those not closely following the ongoing crisis in Manipur, the recent escalation of violence between the Kukis and the Nagas, particularly the Tangkhuls, may be surprising.
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To those not closely following the ongoing crisis in Manipur, the recent escalation of violence between the Kukis and the Nagas, particularly the Tangkhuls, may be surprising. This comes at a time when the conflict between the Kuki and Meitei communities remains unresolved. However, those closely monitoring the situation feared the worst, with the governments, both the Centre and the State, failing to engage the warring groups with effective measures to restore peace. The brutal murder of three civilians—leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association India (TBAI)—in an ambush carried out by unidentified armed assailants between Kotzim village and Saheibung village of Kangpokpi district on Wednesday morning reflects this failure as well as the inhumane nature of the conflict. This barbaric act has drawn widespread condemnation from various organisations, irrespective of communities. However, this is not the first time that armed criminals have killed unsuspecting civilians in cold blood. In April alone, two children—a 5-year-old boy and a 6-month-old girl—were killed in a bomb attack by militants in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai of Bishnupur district. In another incident, two Tangkhul civilians were killed in an ambush allegedly by Kuki militants on NH-202 near TM Kasom village. The pattern is clear. Unlike most wars around the world, armed militants masquerading as village volunteers are targeting civilians in Manipur. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands of families rendered homeless since the ethnic conflict erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. The numbers are increasing with the rise in clashes between the Nagas and the Kukis. Who bears the brunt for this nonsense called 'war'? The civilians.
What we are witnessing in Manipur today is a clear instance of war crimes, as armed groups blatantly violate international humanitarian law by deliberately attacking and killing innocent civilians, including children, women, and religious leaders. There is a complete disregard for human dignity and rights, with civilians being targeted and women subjected to rape and physical harassment. The foundations of human decency, ethics, values, and principles that should be upheld even in wartime have been depleted in Manipur. And all this is taking place despite the deployment of massive central forces amid renewed ethnic clashes, proving that the current measures employed by the government in dealing with the crisis are ineffective. The Naga and Kuki communities share a bitter history. If a full-scale war were to erupt between them today, the consequences could be much worse than what was seen during the conflict in the 1990s, which claimed hundreds of lives on both sides. Such a scenario would be catastrophic for all involved. So, it is crucial for both communities to exercise restraint and resolve their differences amicably, in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation. Church organisations can play a significant role in this process. Most importantly, both the Central and State governments must take concrete steps to defuse the current volatile situation. To prevent further escalation, the authorities should implement public confidence-building measures, including the timely arrest and penalisation of perpetrators without bias. They must also seriously investigate allegations regarding the involvement of foreign armed groups in the conflict and take swift action to eliminate such threats to national security and sovereignty. Once the dust settles, the Centre must prioritise achieving lasting peace in Manipur by addressing the underlying issues related to identity, land, and political representation that have long been a bone of contention among the Meitei, Naga, and Kuki communities.