Imphal: Throughout history, Meiteis have sacrificed, and done the most for the land called Manipur. We all along tried to co-exist with all the communities. There is no dominance by any community over anyone. These were narrated to explain the historical background of Manipur in a one-to-one meeting with the former Chairman of United National Liberation Front (UNLF), R.K. Meghen with the Editor-in-chief of KRC TIMES in Imphal recently.

While explaining he said that Kukis were brought in by Britishers for their own administrative purpose and now the migration continues from the Chin Hill area of Myanmar adjoining Manipur says Meghen. Kuki or rather who called themselves Zo people, the Kuki-Chin has a dream of Zo unification whether in Bangladesh, India, or Burma (now called Myanmar), and these are the phenomenon that exists on the ground.

In 1947-49, Manipur’s International boundary has been demarcated without any legal document. The governments were unconcerned and due to negligence Kuki people have been allowed to infiltrate in a big way. In Tengnoupal, Ukhrul almost 1600 new villages have come up.

It has already affected the demographic change echoed Meghen.
This has a political objective to curve out an administrative setup and these changes affected the demography and are the root cause of the present crisis in Manipur, believes the former leader of UNLF. He further said that it is unfolding and is a very well organised action. 

On the day the Vice President of India was visiting why did they organise a rally he questioned. There must have been intelligence input. ‘I don’t think it was intelligence failure but the administration deliberately ignored the input’ alledges Meghen. This needs to be investigated demanded by the former leader of UNLF.and he says because of that common people are suffering on both sides. 

He alleged that on the side of Kuki, it was a well organised attack looking into the burning of Meitei houses selectively in Churachandpur. In the valley it was a localised and spontaneous reaction of the valley people and unorganised one he commented. He further asserted that in the Langol area of Imphal, Kuki people are protected but in Churachandpur Meitei people are killed.

Now people are asking why paramilitary forces are not taking action. People are saying Assam Rifles are supporting the Kuki by providing arms and ammunition but outside it is projected that the Meiteis are the aggressor.

The mood of the people in the valley is restive. It is also a fact that Government has not looked into the hills area, how people stay and hills were alienated. These factors are also exploding the Kuki to attack, he explains. Meghen also questioned why the Kuki arms group is being protected under Suspension of operation (SoO).

He says still they are moving out freely whereas licensed guns of the Meiteis are being collected by the government in a strategic manner. He alleges that Delhi is not sincere and biased against the Meitei people. Since the environment of peaceful co-existence is being already destroyed, it is very difficult to find an immediate solution.

He also advises that in Manipur, as a state, all communities must co-exist and are interdependent. It is a historic necessity and not a choice. Fragmentation of Manipur is not the solution. Fragmentation will make Meiteis and Nagas react. Meiteis will go to any extent to protect the land.

Still, he strongly believes indigenous people can live together.About Kuki, he says that as they claim that they are the lost tribe of Israel and many have already migrated to Israel, so how can they belong to Manipur?Meghen also believes that the demand for ST is not the solution. This is exactly what he had warned in his deliberation in the World Meitei forum.

He lamented that being integrated into India in 1949, Manipur lost many things. First Kabaw Valley was handed over to Burma, and with the shifting of border pillars by Burma (now Myanmar) Manipur lost almost 2000 sq km of land as boundaries have been shifting inside Manipur. He also questioned why multiple state governments were not able to have their say on this matter.

While ST status may not be the solution, he voiced that Meitei should not be afraid in their own land. It is when the voices are not heard, people react. Grievances of people have to be heard. These have created desperation in Meitei which is dangerous. So it is up to the Government of India to find an amicable solution considering all expects of the society, echoed Meghen.

On the issue of the Mizoram Chief Minister’s involvement in Manipur affairs, Meghen said about Kuki colonial expansion, ‘I will call them very ungrateful people because we protected them in 1992-93 from the Nagas as well as protected the Nagas because we wanted to co-exist. We gave them food, we gave them money, we gave them all possible support and this is what they do to us, echoed an agitated Meghen. He further says, now they are claiming Manipur to be their ancestral land. How ungrateful! They will regret it. It is a historical mistake, a blunder that Kukis made by attacking Meiteis’.  

He demanded that Government should immediately detect and deport these illegal immigrants. If it is done, it will send a good message to the whole of North East India and bring lasting peace to the region.