Detailed analysis of Manipur’s Meitei and Tribal Communities Clash.
INTRODUCTION
The Manipur High Court has instructed the State Government to think about adding the Meitei people to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. This decision has caused the tribal community already in the ST category to express disapproval. As a result, ATSUM (All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur) has organized a march in all ten hill districts of the state to protest against the possible inclusion of the Meitei people in the ST category, as they believe it will diminish their own representation and benefits as ST.
Today in #Manipur #ManipurOnFire pic.twitter.com/8GuEjFDaov
— Брат (@B7801011010) May 4, 2023
People who live in small, isolated communities called tribes traveled by buses and open trucks to attend rallies at the nearest town, which is the district headquarters. This town, called Senapati, is controlled by the Naga tribe and is located about 58 kilometers away from Imphal.
To make sure that as many people as possible participated in the rally, the local government officials ordered a complete closure of the markets and suspended public transportation from 10 am to 1 pm.
Many indigenous people, who comprise roughly 40% of the state’s population, marched together, holding up signs and shouting slogans in protest against granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. Additionally, members of the Senapati District Students’ Association met with the deputy commissioner to express their worries.
WHY MEITEIS WANT ST STATUS?
The Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM), has stated that their demand is not just about obtaining job reservations, education benefits, and tax exemptions. Their main reason for seeking ST status is to safeguard their traditional land, culture, and identity, which they believe is under threat due to illegal immigration from neighboring countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as from people from other Indian states.
WHAT HAPPENED AT CHURACHANDPUR?
In Churachandpur, which is the second-largest town in the state, people disobeyed orders that banned them from gathering in public places. Instead, they assembled at a public ground and organized a march towards Tuibong. This happened even though the authorities had imposed a ban on public gatherings due to the recent violent protests.
To restore order, security forces were sent from other parts of Manipur to the town after a venue where the Chief Minister N Biren Singh was supposed to give a speech was vandalized. As a result, the authorities imposed a prohibition order for an indefinite period of time in the town.
A curfew was put in place in eight districts of Manipur, and mobile internet services were turned off throughout the entire northeastern state due to violent incidents during a tribal protest on Wednesday, according to government officials. The suspension of mobile internet services is in effect for five days, starting immediately, while broadband services are still available.
On the night of May 3rd, the Army was called upon to assist in controlling the situation, and they were instructed to remain on duty until May 4th, unless they were asked to stay longer. The joint force of the Army and state police was able to take control of the situation on the ground on Wednesday night, and with more help arriving, the violence was further contained by morning.
Churches are being attacked in Manipur, India. The regime fails to contain the violence – it may spread to Nagaland. https://t.co/IwhiTYygNe
— Ashok (@ashoswai) May 4, 2023
The police used tear gas shells several times to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control.
In summary, the tribal people in the area have ownership of land, but the Meitei people have a majority of political power in the legislative assembly with 40 out of 60 seats. The state government has tried multiple times to change the laws that restrict land ownership for the Meitei people. To conclude, there is a disparity in power and ownership between the two groups, with the Meitei having more political influence and the tribal people having more land ownership.
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