When the news of the dead bodies of three women with their children was found in Jiribam, emotions ran high. It poured across social media and then onto the streets of Manipur’s capital Imphal, and other parts of India.
Photographs went viral and violent protests erupted. The events that unfold in the aftermath are for everyone to see.
Every right-thinking citizen expects every other right-thinking citizen to condemn the act. For those who are active socially—either digitally or physically—who do not update a post, or for the CSOs who did not issue a “statement” or a “condemnation,” they are considered “heartless” and “inhuman.”
Universal ethics of war, code of conduct of warfare, etc. are quoted and referred to. Morality is being questioned. Even religion is being brought in. Women activists and ‘liberals’ become the target of ridicule. They were “called out” for being silent and not standing in solidarity with the “women victim” and not expressing any “condemnation.”
The six persons were allegedly killed by Kuki-Zomi-Hmar armed volunteers. Before this is the chilling account of a mother of three who was charred to death. It was the handiwork of the Meitei armed volunteers (I would prefer to use the term armed volunteers for both communities for obvious reasons).
The cycle of revenge continues. And women and children are at the receiving end. The innocent become the casualty. The unarmed and the helpless are used to “challenge” the enemy. The more brutal the killing, the more the show of strength. For some, it seems to give them the “josh.”.
As heartless as the killings and rape of women in the ongoing crisis in Manipur is the response to the situation by the government. More and more troops were sent into the state. Bureaucrats and top-notch members of the security forces are flown in. That is the intervention. At present, Manipur is heavily militarized. The number of security forces is greater than the population of many of the tribal groups in the state.
Even as Imphal burns, not a single elected representative was “moved” by the sentiments and emotions on the streets. At the onset of the violence last year, legislators were also called to tender their resignations, which did not happen and does not seem to happen. At least until the next state election, the MLAs will remain.
At the onset of the crisis, there were several reports of gruesome killings of women and children. There is the shocking case of a mother and son brutally killed inside an ambulance. There are reports of even women’s groups calling out for the killing of women.
One incident that caught the country’s attention is the nude parade and sexual assault of two women that came to light in July last year.
These events have seemingly moved on from public memory and public discourse. The stories of these women are not a hot topic anymore.
Many cases of assault on women go unreported. Activists and NGOs, researchers, and concerned citizens observed that there are likely to be numerous cases of violence against women in this ongoing crisis. It remains to be seen if these issues are considered serious cases to be investigated with follow-up actions.
The more educated and the intellectuals talk about the ‘ethics of war’. Even in traditional belief and practice, “women and children” are not to be used as pawns and should be untouched. Moreover, looting of property, goods, etc. is also considered part of the crime. It is also believed that looting of belongings of the enemy brings “bad omens.” People often avoid looting for fear of repercussions” or consequences.
But all this does not seem to come into the consciousness. It is either forgotten, brushed aside as insignificant, or dismissed. In the war between the two communities in Manipur, no one seems to care or bother about morality ethics or universal law.
All said and done, everything seems fair in the ongoing violent conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar. Both sides are heavily armed. Everyone, young and old, is involved as a “community.” On the frontlines as “village volunteers or village guards,” manning bunkers and guarding their territory. And in the inner line and sidelines, on several platforms, including the UN, the fight continues to take place in various forms and levels.
Who will stop first is a million-dollar question. The one who kills the latest is the one who seems to hog the limelight. The community that has more counts of ‘victim’ or the community that suffers more, seems to get more sympathy.
It goes on and on. The end never seems to come by. Not soon if this cycle goes on in this manner and fashion.
Eighteen months into the crisis, not even a “third” party seems to come between the two warring groups. In some of my interactions with a few individuals, they have bluntly said that it is always better to “keep a distance” and not interfere in the ethnic conflict between two groups.
Many of those who attempted to be sympathetic and concerned about the state of affairs normally seem to brush the wrong side. They end up being biased and end up taking sides. Meanwhile, others get to talk sense but are being trolled left and right. Abused and ridiculed.
No one can make any sense of what is going on. It is getting murkier and murkier. Or so it appears. It is difficult to know who is in charge of Manipur. On the other hand, it is also a clear case of failed governance on the part of administration and state leadership. The worst is the indifference of the central government.
As it stands, there is no stopping. As per conversations and public sentiments, the violence is unlikely to end soon.
Finger-pointing continues. One community accused the other. The other community blames the other. Everybody wants the upper hand. Meanwhile, the government seems to understand only ‘violence’. Only when things get violent, there is some reaction. The more the violence, the more things get ‘publicity’.
Violence is the only language that is spoken in/of Manipur.
Public sentiments expressed in terms of protest are also violent—damaging property, burning of goods, scuffling with forces, etc. Even the call for “peace” is held in terms of “street protest.”
Some years back, when I interviewed a tribal rebel leader he said, “For people like us, a minority in the far corner of India, taking up arms is the only way to express ourselves and get attention.”. Perhaps this is the harsh reality and the sad truth. Even then, is the government listening?
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