The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Meitei and Hmar leaders hold peace talks in Jiribam
REPRESENTATIVES OF Meitei and Hmar communities from Manipur’s tense Jiribam district are working towards gradually easing the situation by meeting in the neighbouring Cachar district in Assam. In the latest such meeting held on Thursday, they arrived at an agreement to enable “controlled movement” of both communities within Jiribam.
The process of such “peace talks”, coordinated by the district Superintendent of Police, is unique to Jiribam and has eluded other conflict- hit parts of Manipur. Different group leaders told The Indian Express that they are keen on enabling a safe passage back home for all displaced people in the district through discussions.
On Thursday, leaders of nine civil society organisations from Jiribam, representing Meitei and Hmar interests, as well as Thadou, Paitei and Mizo representatives, met at the CRPF Group Centre in Cachar, in a meeting moderated by the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, the DIG CRPF of Jiribam, and the Commandants of the 39 Assam Rifles and 87 Battalion CRPF. Hmar, Thadou, Paitei and Mizo all come under the Zo umbrella, currently in conflict with the Meiteis in Manipur.
At the meeting, they agreed on three key resolutions. The first was for “both sides to make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of firing and arson”. The second was to cooperate with security forces operating in the district. And the third key was for “controlled and coordinated movement”.
According to a leader of one of the Meitei groups that attended the meeting, the most important decision was on “controlled movement”. Because of the current tensions, parts of the district have become inaccessible to the community in the minority there. The Hmars and Kukis who resided in and around Jiribam town have fled to Cachar, while Meitiei families living close to the Hmar- majority hills in Borobekra subdivision are in relief camps in Jiribam.
“We agreed that both sides should have free movement in all parts, but that will take some time. Till then, we have agreed to have a system of controlled movement. If a member of one community wants to go to a part where they can’t right now, they should inform all the civil society organisations and security forces so they can go there safely,” said the Meitei group leader.
An official who attended the meeting said, “We believe that a beginning has been made, though there are challenges ahead. We hope that the people will soon realise the futility of the conflict. We appreciate the people of Jiribam for agreeing to come to the meeting.”
This is the second such meeting where groups from both sides have met since Jiribam was first gripped with tensions on June 6. Neighbouring Assam has served as a “neutral place” for these meetings and the first meeting was held there on July 1 in Silchar, with representatives of 19 groups in attendance. It was moderated by Jiribam Superintendent of Police M Pradip Singh.