Guwahati/Imphal
It was on May 3 last year that ethnic clashes first erupted in Manipur following the High Court’s directions to the State government to consider granting the Scheduled Tribes status to Meiteis, who had for long been demanding it and which the Kukis had vehemently been opposing.
The clashes between the Kukis and Meiteis subsequently erupted and the violence engulfed the whole State gradually resulting in over 200 persons losing their lives, hundreds getting injured, thousands being displaced and scores having gone missing. Still more, many have lost both their properties and near and dear ones. Sporadic incidents of violence, including attacks on security forces, continue in the State to this day.
While civil society organisations representing the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities have lined up events to mark the first year on Friday, two Meitei armed groups, Arambai Tenggol and UNLF decided to work together against forces trying to disturb the state’s integrity.
Meanwhile, the apex tribal body, Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), announced a “shutdown” and called all residents to hoist black flags to mark the day. It also asked all business establishments, institutions and markets to remain closed on the day as a sign of respect and homage to the “fallen heroes”.
The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district also announced to observe Martyrs’ One Year Remembrance Day and a shutdown will be rigorously enforced in the District. The total shutdown will commence from midnight of May 2 and culminate on midnight of May 3. The tribals will also observe a candlelight vigil from 7 pm onwards in their respective homes besides along the National Highway from Gamgiphai to Taphou and in all bazaar areas. A gun salute will also be made to pay homage to the fallen Kuki-Zo community members.
Kuki Inpi, the Committee on Tribal Unity and a few other Kuki-Zo organisations also announced similar events in other Kuki-dominated districts like Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal on Friday. The ITLF also announced an event named “Observance of One Year Meitei Ethnic Cleansing Against Kuki-Zo” in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district.
For its part, the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur’s Integrity (COCOMI), a forum of Meitei organisations, will hold an event titled “365 Days of Chin-Kuki Narco Terrorist Aggression in Manipur” with activists, academicians, retired judges, journalists and lawyers likely to attend.
Meitei armed groups Arambai Tenggol and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on Thursday signed an agreement to remove their differences and resolved to “work together against forces trying to disturb the state’s integrity.” The two groups formed a “working committee” for constant communication and vowed to work together to protect Manipur’s integrity. This was seen as a move against the Kuki-Zo organisations demanding a “separate administration”.
