By – Thoithoi Singh
Imphal, Dec 4:
Meitei revivalist body Meitei Leepun supremo M Pramot Singh has asserted that they will not accept any form of peace talks with the warring community until “legal justice” is delivered and that the Meitei village volunteers will not surrender weapons unless the Kuki militants who are armed to the teeth are disarmed at the same time.
In an exclusive interview with Imphal Times, Pramot Singh said “until legal justice is served, we will not engage in peace talks. Internally Displaced Persons must return back to their original lands in Churachandpur, Moreh and interiors of Jiribam, and those involved in the mass eviction of Meiteis from those districts should he punished first. This is the stand of Meitei Leepun. If Bangladesh immigrants settles and occupies en masse in Assam or Bengal after illegally crossing the border over a course of two or three decades, and then later forcefully evicts the original Assamese or Bengalese from their lands, will they call for peace? It is the same as that. We are fighting for our own survival and integrity of Manipur.”
Recalling on the various major factors which led to the ethnic conflict in Manipur, Pramot Singh said he firmly believes government attempt’s to identify illegal immigration, crackdown on drug cartels and eviction from encroachment on reserved forest areas have been major factors in the build up to this conflict.
However, Pramot Singh also said that the drive to build an “ethno centric Christian nation” by the Kukis is also a root cause behind the conflict and pointed out how Kuki militants are engaged in a bloody conflict in Bangladesh’s Chittagong tract and Myanmar’s Chin state with their governments.
“They simply want lands in Manipur to create their own Christian nation in this part of the region. This aggression will not stop at Manipur. British writers have clearly mentioned in volumes of books that Kukis are an agressive nomadic tribe who are being pushed into Manipur from Myanmar since middle of 19th century. Now, their population have grown sizeably due to unchecked illegal immigration and with time, dreams have evolved for the formation of an ethno centric Christian state with the backing of outside forces” Pramot Singh said and warned “there will be next target in districts of other states where their population is steathily growing.”
However, Pramot Singh agreed that what happened at Torbung in Bishnupur district on May 3 at around 4 pm was the immediate cause of the conflict.
Pramot Singh continued “the May 3 incident when thousands of armed mobs from Churachandpur district crossed into Bishnupur district and torched the entire localities of Torbung, parts of Kangvai and Phougakchao triggered the violence in the state though tension had been brewing since April with multiple incidents of mob violence by Kuki and Zo groups in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts.”
“On April 27, 2023 a mob set on fire a newly constructed open gym at PT Sports Complex in Churachandpur which was later followed by vandalisation of Sadhbhav Mandap where Chief Minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to attend a programme. Earlier a rally in Kangpokpi district against eviction of Kuki community from reserved forest areas turned violent with the demonstrators attacking police personnel” Pramot Singh continued.
“Whatever happened in Imphal from the night of May 3 is a retaliation to the unprovoked attack at Torbung and surrounding Meitei localities where the arson, burning, looting, weeping and panic striken people and the massive mob incited huge public sentinents” Pramot Singh said.
On Meitei Leepun, Pramot Singh said “Meitei Leepun was founded in 2015 and have always operated within the framework of law and the Indian constitution. We were founded to preserve the dying cultural and traditional heritage of Meitei community and place high emphasis on Meitei values of showing respect towards elders, self discipline and cleanliness. To showcase and pledge our committment to the nation, we also took part in the Republic Day parade on January 26 in 2023 before violence broke out and after the programme finished, our members cleaned the waste items left by more than 4000 plus visitors. Every year, we also celebrate the national Independence Day on August 15 and tricolour flag is hoisted at the Langol office of Meitei Leepun.”
Pramot Singh continued that there is even a weekly programme called “nouwa thouram” for pre-teen children where they are made to learn to show respect to elders, do their own little chores of making beds, develop self reliance and inculcate social responsibility as a citizen of the country. “This is to enable the children grow into a disciplined and a model citizen” he said.
Speaking on the narrative of the tribal and non-tribal conflict propagated in the media, Pramot Singh said “in multiple narratives the conflict is promoted as between tribals and non-tribals and allegations has been made that tribals have been completely hunted and evicted from Imphal valley. The tribal terminology is consistently misused to mislead the people as tribal is huge platform in the country. Kuki, Zo bodies and their intellectuals have played the tribal card to portray themselves as victims from a majority atrocities when they themselves have been the aggressors.”
Pramot Singh asked “If tribals are evicted and not allowed in Imphal valley as consistently propagated by Kuki and Mizoram bodies, how are thousands of Naga tribes living peacefully in Imphal valley. Lets remember ot a single Naga left Imphal since May 3.”
Kuki and Mizo organisations also seems to have forgotten that there are currently hundreds of Mizo students living freely and studying in Imphal valley, Pramot Singh said.
“We are original inhabitants of this land. And when we say this land, we dont refer to the Imphal valley. We refer to entire Manipur state. History is witness to it. The boundaries of Manipur is not made in last 100 years but over thousand of years by our forefather” Pramot Singh said.
On additional security deployment in the state, Pramot Singh said “how long will a huge force of more than 1 lakh central forces be stationed in a small state like Manipur. Security forces may be able to control gun firing for few months or even few years. Are there assurances Kuki militants will not attack after the security forces leave? To station central forces at the foothills of a small Imphal valley for years is not realistic. Hence we need a permanent mechanism to protect the indigeneous population from Kuki militants attack and massive influx of immigrats who crosses into Indian side and becomes Indian citizens by procuring fake Aadhar and other documents.”
On allegations by Kuki bodies that Meitei Leepun have been involved in Manipur violence, Pramot Singh retorted “what do you mean involved? Our villages were attacked by marauding Kuki and Zo militants since May 3. Women, children and elders have been killed and houses burnt to the ground. Obviously we have to retaliate to safeguard our lives and properties. Does that amount to being involved in this violence. But let this be very clear that Meitei Leepun has never attacked a single Kuki village. We have always defended our homes with license guns and never used any illegal weapons.”
As to surrendering of weapons by Meitei community, Pramot Singh said “weapons can be only be surrendered if Kuki militants are disarmed first. You cant expect village volunteers to surrender weapons when Kuki militants remained armed to the teeth. We are in situation where Kuki militants from hill tops are able to launch gun attacks despite presence of army and central forces. “
On being asked if Meitei Leepun is a radical organisation, as alleged by sections, Pramot Singh said “we are not advocating any political or social changes. Then how can we be radical. We simply want to preserve Meitei values and heritage and work under the framework of the law. Only thing is unprovoked attack has forced us to defend our homes.”
Pramot Singh also said “North East is infested by anti-national elements and under the influence of unfriendly countries. If such elements hijack the people’s sentiment by taking advantage of the present Manipur crisis the issues would become more complicated, in fact in several pockets mobs are already in the hands of such anti-nationals elements. At this juncture, India should empower pro-India groups who believe in the nation’s armed forces and those working under the ambit of the laws.”
