Free movement will take time govt tells meiteis

Free movement will take time govt tells meiteis

Centre tells them this is not achievable in a few months or weeks, does not give any timeline to resolve issues; groups raise concerns over politicians normalising Manipur’s ethnic violence.

The resumption of free movement for all communities along the National Highways in Manipur, and the resettlement of internally displaced people are “going to take some time”, Home Ministry officials have told a delegation of Meitei civil society groups at a meeting in the national capital. The officials “clearly stated” that this is “not achievable in a few months or a few weeks”, the Meitei groups said at a press conference on Wednesday, a day after the meeting.

The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), a coalition of civil society groups based in the Imphal valley, met with a Ministry team led by Northeast Adviser A.K. Mishra on Tuesday, even as protests broke out in Imphal again related to an alleged cover-up of the word “Manipur” on a state bus.

“There was a fruitful and constructive discussion on a range of issues with officials of the Ministry on Tuesday. It was clearly stated by the Ministry that the issues of opening National Highways, resettlement of the internally displaced persons, these are going to take some time. This is not achievable in a few months or a few weeks,” FOCS consultative member Puyam Rakesh said at the press conference.

‘No specific timeline’

At a security review meeting on March 1 this year, Home Minister Amit Shah had directed that from March 8, there would be free movement along the highways, which have been blocked since the ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023. However, on March 8, amidst attempts to enforce this direction, a 19-year-old man was killed and more than 40 people were injured in Kangpokpi district as Kuki-Zo people clashed with Central armed police forces.

Speaking on behalf of the FOCS delegation, Mr. Rakesh alleged that “the Union government is reluctant to use excessive force to reopen the highway”, adding that the Ministry officials did not give any “specific timeline” for when these issues, such as free movement on the highways and resettlement of displaced persons, could be addressed.

“That was the message given to us by the Government of India. We look forward to having more rounds of talks and also intercommunity dialogue with the Kuki-Zo community, which will be very important for restoring normalcy and peace in Manipur,” Mr. Rakesh said.

While FOCS has agreed to engage with Kuki-Zo community associations, the delegation from the Coordination Committee for Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), another Meitei group, which met separately with Ministry officials, clarified that it will engage “exclusively with Government of India”.

Mr. Rakesh said the FOCS delegation raised concerns about “seasoned politicians” — including Union Ministers Amit Shah, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Kiren Rijiju — making comments about Manipur having a “history or tradition” of ethnic conflicts. This was “sending a message that is normalising the violence” in the State, the FOCS delegate said.