After four months of relative calm, Manipur is once again engulfed in tension and violence. This is a direct result of Union home minister Amit Shah’s decision to enforce the “free movement” of vehicles on national highways linking the valley with the predominantly Kuki-Zo hill areas. On Saturday, one person was killed and 43 injured, leading to the Kuki-Zo community declaring an indefinite total shutdown.
Why is the Kuki-Zo community so adamantly opposed to the “free movement” and has the home minister made a terrible mistake imposing the decision on them? Spokesperson of both the Kuki-Zo Council and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, Ginza Vualzong, told Karan Thapar in an interview for The Wire that the “government also feels it was a mistake to introduce free movement as of now”.
“I think the home minister wanted to show the nation and the world that Manipur is back to normalcy by introducing this free movement of the people. This is just a facade, because for a lasting peace and harmony in the state, the government must seriously look into the actual problem that people are facing. What we face in Manipur is not a law and order problem. It is an ethnic cleansing programme,” Vualzong said.
The full text of the interview is given below.
Karan Thapar: Why is the Kuki-Zo community so adamantly opposed to the free movement of vehicles on national highways between Imphal, Kangpokpi and Senapati, as well as Imphal, Bishnupur and Churachandpur?
Ginza Vualzong: Right, thank you Karan for having me back. From day one of the conflict, which is May 3rd of 2023, the Kuki-Zo did not oppose any movement of vehicles on national highways. Only at some point of time when the tension and conflict rises up [escalated], that in the Kangpokpi area, the highway was blocked for some point of time.
But the blockade was removed later on. So apart from that, the Kuki-Zo people do not stop or oppose any movement of vehicles. In fact, it is the Meitei from the Imphal Valley who oppose the movement of goods of essential commodities going to [predominantly] Kuki-Zo areas like Lamka, Churachandpur, Tengnoupal.
[In] all these areas, we do not get any essential commodities coming from the Imphal Valley. So we have been deprived of these supplies ever since the violence started.
Karan Thapar: Let me clarify your position.
You’re telling me that the Kuki-Zo community do not oppose the plying of vehicles on national highways. But all the papers have reported that your position is that free movement between the valley and the hills is not acceptable until the government agrees to the Kuki-Zo demand for a separate administration. In other words, a Union Territory with an assembly. Is that your position today?
Ginza Vualzong: Yes. Like I said before, we do not oppose the movement of goods. However, we are opposing the movement of the Meitei people because of security reasons.
For the past almost two years, we have seen killings and destruction of properties happening from Imphal. And there are instances of our people, the Kuki-Zo people being killed just because they happen to be inside the territory of the Imphal Valley. So that’s why we do not welcome this movement of people from both sides.
We will not encourage our people to go inside the Imphal Valley, nor do we welcome the Meitei people to come inside our territory at the moment.
Karan Thapar: Let me once again clarify. If I understood your answer correctly, you’re saying you do not oppose the movement of goods.
In other words, you do not oppose commercial traffic bringing goods into the hills, but you are opposed to the movement of Meitei people coming to the hills. And equally, you’re opposed to the movement of the Kuki-Zo people going to the valley. Have I understood correctly?
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right. That’s correct.
Karan Thapar: But then explain this to me. Why is your present position linking the movements of people with a demand for separate administration, i.e. a Union Territory and an Assembly? Why are you linking the two at the moment?
Ginza Vualzong: Yes, you must be aware and other people must be aware that for the past almost two years, because of the ethnic conflicts, we have lost so many lives from the Kuki-Zo side. I think more than 230 lives have been lost, 7,000 houses are destroyed, more than 360 places of worship have been destroyed or burned, and more than 40,000 people are rendered homeless. So this is not just a law and order issue, but it is an ethnic cleansing programme made by the Meitei people against one community, which is the Kuki-Zo.
So it’s not a law and order issue. And that’s the reason why, without addressing the actual concern of the Kuki-Zo people, if the government is trying to impose peace, then it will not work. So that’s why we have a political demand in the form of unity with legislature.
So until this political demand or a political dialogue is initiated by the government, the practical peace will not happen. So the government must be serious enough to look into the actual concern and problem with Manipur, rather than imposing peace forcefully. That’s why, until and unless our issue is addressed, which is our demand for a separate administration is addressed, we will not welcome this forcefully imposing peace in Manipur.
Karan Thapar: So your position is, until and unless your demand for a separate administration is addressed, you will not accept the free movement of people, particularly the free movement of Meitei people from the valley into the hills. That is your final position, you’re determined to stand by it.
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right. I think it’s too premature right now, because the sentiments of the people are very high from both the communities, Meitei and the Kuki-Zo. So if you are trying to put us together forcefully, the end result is agitation and killings. So the government has to dig into the real issue.
They have to take things slowly and they should address the issue of the people on the ground.
Karan Thapar: Let me put to you what I believe, or maybe I should say what I assume are the home minister’s standpoints and give you a chance to respond to them. I presume the home minister believes that the free movement of people will facilitate harmony and bring about the restoration of peace and calm. Why are you not willing to accept that?
Ginza Vualzong: I think the home minister wanted to show the nation and the world that Manipur is back to normalcy by introducing this free movement of the people. This is just a facade, because for a lasting peace and harmony in the state, the government must seriously look into the actual problem that people are facing. What we face in Manipur is not a law and order problem. It is an ethnic cleansing programme. One community is trying to wipe out another. So just by sending an empty bus to the hill area will not solve the issue.
If the government is serious in solving Manipur issue, they should start political intervention.
Karan Thapar: Let me put to you a viewpoint that the Kuki-Zo community is expressing within the community. This is a viewpoint that has been exchanged within the Kuki-Zo community.
I want to put it to you to ask whether as spokesperson of Kuki-Zo Council and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, you accept this viewpoint. There is a view that Amit Shah’s decision to enforce free movement on the highways was not about restoring peace, but about restoring the BJP’s control in Manipur after Biren Singh’s removal. In other words, this is an attempt by the home minister to reach out to his mighty supporters.
This is what the Kuki-Zo community is saying within itself. To what extent do you as spokesperson agree with it?
Ginza Vualzong: From the beginning of the conflict, the government of India is not serious in solving Manipur issue. They have let Biren Singh, who is the BJP’s chief minister, they let him run the government for almost two years now after the conflict.
It is very clear that he is not able to run the government, but still, they put him as the chief minister. This speaks volumes about the government’s lack of interest in solving our issues. Yes, the Meitei have more electoral votes and more representatives than the Kuki-Zo.
So maybe that’s why the BJP government is trying its best to keep Biren Singh as the chief minister. I think they’re trying to please the Meitei’s sentiments.
Karan Thapar: So you do agree with that view?
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right.
Karan Thapar: Let me quote from a statement issued by your Kuki-Zo Council. It says, and I’m quoting, “the Kuki-Zo Council firmly emphasises that while the idea of peace is indeed welcomed by all, it cannot be achieved through the imposition of force at the expense of a particular community. Forcing peace upon unwilling parties can lead to further conflict, undermining the very goal of harmony.” Yet that is precisely what the home minister has attempted to do. Would you therefore say this is a deliberate folly on his part?
Ginza Vualzong: Right. President’s rule can be imposed, but peace cannot be imposed.
That is my opinion. Peace cannot be achieved by using security forces. Lasting peace can only be achieved by properly analysing the issue and sitting down with the stakeholders to sort it out.
In our case, it is not a law and order issue. It is a political issue where one ethnic group is being targeted and [there’s an] attempt to remove [it] from the state. So a political solution will only bring peace.
So if the government is planning to solve the issue as a law and order issue, I think the government will fail. It has to address the issue which is actually ongoing here in Manipur.
Karan Thapar: So the attempt by the home minister to impose peace, to impose a free movement of people between the valley and the hills is a mistake, a terrible mistake.
Ginza Vualzong: Yeah, a terrible mistake right now because, like I said before, it’s premature and the government needs to sit down with the stakeholders first and should go with one step at a time.
Karan Thapar: Now, in response, the Kuki-Zo Council has imposed an indefinite complete shutdown. There was some speculation yesterday, according to Hindustan Times, that it might have been lifted. But in fact, there was a clarification that it hasn’t been lifted. That indefinite complete shutdown continues. Let me begin by asking you, how effective is that shutdown?
Ginza Vualzong: Well, the shutdown is our way of showing that we are not happy with what the government tried to introduce, the free movement.
Also, there are comments [made] and there are steps taken by the Meitei civil society which provoke the sentiments of the Kuki-Zo people. So all this put together agitates and led to the agitation and the protest by the Kuki-Zo [community]. So the Kuki-Zo Council has announced indefinite shutdown in all Kuki-Zo areas and the people adhered to it and the shutdown was successful.
And I believe the government also recognised or heard our voice and they are willing to talk to us. I think yesterday a talk has already been initiated in Gangbuk and it will continue today also.
Karan Thapar: But you know, you’ve declared what you call an indefinite complete shutdown. Indefinite makes it sound as if this would continue for days, if not weeks. Do you really intend to go on for that long?
Ginza Vualzong: Right. Right now, we cannot allow the Meitei people to freely move inside our territory.
So the shutdown can be relaxed within our town and territories. However, the border between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo would be sealed so that to stop any movement from the Meitei side.
Karan Thapar: You say that there could be relaxation within the Kuki-Zo areas to make life easier for the Kuki-Zo people.
That’s the next question I want to put to you because the people who are suffering from this indefinite complete shutdown are also the Kuki-Zo. They can’t move around in their own areas. They can’t go shopping. They can’t do anything. How long will you impose it on them?
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right. That’s why there has to be some kind of relaxation so that our people can also go about with their daily life.
But we cannot compromise on the opening of the borders. We cannot allow the Meitei people to just barge into our territory right now.
Karan Thapar: When will that relaxation start?
Ginza Vualzong: Today, the talks with the government will continue and the MHA [Ministry of Home Affairs], I believe, the MHA [officials] are coming down to meet us also.
So, let’s see. After the talk, if things are going in our way and things are looking positive, then maybe, yes, we can go ahead and relax.
Karan Thapar: Two or three times you have referred to talks with the government. You suggested there was some contact yesterday. You said that there will be further contacts or talks today. First of all, who in this government are you talking to? Is it the state government in Imphal? Is it the Union government in Delhi?
Ginza Vualzong: I would say both. In the district level, we speak to the DC or deputy commissioner who represents the government. In the central level, I think we are speaking to MHA. We also spoke with the governor.
Karan Thapar: Who from the MHA is talking to you?
Ginza Vualzong: Officials from the IB as well as the Northeast interlocutor are often engaged with us in talks.
Karan Thapar: Are you also in direct touch with the governor, Mr. [Ajay Kumar] Bhalla?
Ginza Vualzong: The governor has met the Kuki-Zos, I think, twice. Once in Churchanpur, Lamka as well as in Kangpokpi.
Karan Thapar: After March the 7th or before?
Ginza Vualzong: After he resumed his position.
Karan Thapar: Has the governor met you after your indefinite shutdown was announced and began?
Ginza Vualzong: No, not yet.
Karan Thapar: So you have talks with the local authorities like the district commissioner, you have talks with some officials from the MHA but you do not have talks with the governor and his administration in Imphal?
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right. After the shutdown, yes.
Karan Thapar: What sort of response are you getting from the MHA?
Ginza Vualzong: You see, the MHA has been requesting us. Last time when we were planning to organise a peaceful rally, the Ministry of Home Affairs had requested us to cancel our rally, citing that there could be a possibility of violence.
And now that the government is introducing a free movement and we informed the Ministry of Home Affairs that there’s a possibility of violence, considering the declaration made by some civil society as well as there are press releases from the Kuki-Zo side also saying that the free movement cannot be allowed. So having known that there’s a possibility of violence to happen because of the free movement, the government is still going ahead with the free movement. The government, [the] MHA is not taking us seriously.
Karan Thapar: It sounds as if the MHA is adamant and obstinate and sticking to its position as you say they’re not taking your concern seriously.
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right.
Karan Thapar: So you’re not getting an accommodating, favourable response even though some sort of talks are continuing.
Ginza Vualzong: Every time we had a discussion with the MHA, the Central government, they always talk about peace.
Peace has to be there, conducive environment has to be there for a political dialogue to happen. As far as possible the Kuki-Zo people are there to whatever request the Central government is giving to us. We comply to their request but we do not see any kind of headway or progress in terms of our political dialogue.
Karan Thapar: I come to that political dialogue because I think it’s important. What is your sense of the [Narendra] Modi government’s response to your key demand? This is the most important demand you have for a Union Territory within assembly. You’ve had sporadic talks with the government over several months. How would you characterise their response to that key demand?
Ginza Vualzong: Well, the fact that the prime minister has not yet set foot in Manipur speaks volumes about his attitude towards the problems in Manipur. More than 300 Indian lives have been lost in Manipur but still he continues to ignore it. This clearly indicates that the Central government, under the leadership of the prime minister, is not serious with the condition, with the issue that we are facing right now.
Recently when the governor of Manipur met with Arambai Tenggol, the Arambai Tenggol submitted numerous demands which were all anti-Kuki-Zo. Among the demands the Arambai Tenggol set, the governor gave, after the meeting the Arambai Tenggol said in the press that the governor gave them assurance that no separate administration for the Kuki-Zo and the next day the Arambai Tenggol submitted arms to the government. Also on 8th March, The Tribune reported that Amit Shah tells Manipur governor that Kuki-Zo demands for UT will not be entertained at the governor security meeting.
So all these are indicators that the government of India is not serious in solving the issue of Manipur. They continue to treat the Manipur issue as a law and order issue. They try to forcefully impose peace by using security forces.
The problem in Manipur is much more than that. It is an ethnic cleansing program where one community is trying to wipe out another community. The military civil societies have declared war on the Kuki-Zo and they are successful in driving us out from the area.
Karan Thapar: Let me ask you this, Ginza. All the indication that you’re getting, whether it’s from the governor in Imphal, whether it’s from the home ministry in Delhi, is that the government [is] not seriously considering your demand for a separate administration. How unhappy does that make you? How frustrated does that make you?
Ginza Vualzong: Right. It is very frustrating and the frustration can can be seen on the 8th of March in Kangupri where the people agitated in protest against the free movement and that ends up in the loss of lives and many people and more than 50 people are injured. So, this shows how much frustrated we are with how the government is handling the issue.
Karan Thapar: You’re saying what happened on the 8th of March is a direct reflection of your frustration and your unhappiness over the way the government is responding to your key political demand for a separate administration.
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right. Instead of addressing our issue and concern where we lost so many lives and property, the government is trying to impose peace forcefully on us. So, what we wanted is the government to first address our issues and then we can slowly move on with whatever programmes the government has.
Karan Thapar: My last issue. According to the schedule, the next time buses will attempt to ply between Imphal and the hills is tomorrow, Wednesday. If that happens, will we see scenes similar to the ones we saw on Saturday where there was violence, where one person was killed and 43 injured? Is a similar repeat of violence, killing and injuries likely to happen tomorrow if the government goes ahead with the schedule to ply buses?
Ginza Vualzong: After the agitation and protests we have seen on the 8th of March in Kangpokpi, I don’t think the government or the military will attempt to cross again.
So, if there is going to be such an attempt by the military or the government, I think Kuki-Zo people are ready to face them. So, we will not allow any such movement of the military people and we will stop them with a nail. So, we will be totally against this free movement as of now.
Karan Thapar: So, you’re saying two things to me. One, you don’t believe there will be an attempt to ply buses tomorrow after what happened on Saturday. But you’re also saying if there is an attempt to ply buses, you will stop them tooth and nail. The Kuki-Zo people will not accept it, which means we could see repeats of the violence that happened on Saturday again tomorrow, Wednesday.
Ginza Vualzong: That’s right.
Karan Thapar: As blunt as that, that’s right!
Ginza Vualzong: Yes, I think the government of India also feels it was a mistake to introduce the free movement as of now. If they still want it to continue after so many injuries, protests, and the loss of one life, we have no option but to face the government.
Karan Thapar: Ginza Vualzong, thank you so much for the time you have given me, thank for explaining the position of the Kuki-Zo community as well as how you view your contacts and your so-called negotiations with the government. I’m deeply grateful. Take care, stay safe.
