Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the two umbrella groups of militants, UPF and KNO, announced the lifting of 54-day-long blockade on National Highway 2. It was understood that the withdrawal of the blockade was the result of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal and negotiations at Guwahati.
The Guwahati meet was attended by both Kuki MLAs and CSOs. Hence, the announcement of lifting the blockade through a joint release signed by UPF spokesperson Aaron Kipgen and KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip.
The release had stated that the decision to lift the blockade was taken after wide ranging consultations with various civil society organisations, village chiefs, youth and women leaders on several occasions, and that the ongoing conflict has disturbed the traditional communal harmony in the state.
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It was mentioned that the Kuki Zo organisations had appealed to the Union Home Minister to provide security in the vulnerable villages in the bordering and foothill areas, when they met him earlier.
As central forces have been deployed in most of these areas they stated that once the deployment of central forces is completed in all vulnerable areas, their volunteers are withdrawn from these areas to help restore peace and tranquillity.
The release also appealed to all peace-loving organisations and citizens of Manipur to reciprocate their gesture and take steps towards peace and communal harmony in the state. We must say, it was indeed a good gesture.
However, the announcement was also taken with a pinch of salt because of the violent incident in the first week of June when a mob of irate volunteers of the blockade gathered and stormed the residence of COTU chairman at Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district and burnt his house while a volunteer was injured in firing.
It so happened that the Committee of Tribal Unity (COTU) had also announced the withdrawal of the NH 2 blockade after the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s appeal to Kuki groups then.
Interestingly, just after the joint press release another came. A release by the Information & Publicity Wing (IPW) of the UPF-Zomi stated that the Front, comprising of ZRO/ZRA, HPC (D), ZRF and ZDF that the Front is not a party to lift the blockade on National Highway (NH)-2 and that UPF-Zomi has never imposed blockade on NH-2 and for that matter on any national and state highways.
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It also stated that the decision of lifting the blockade does not fall under the authority of UPF and KNO and that it is the people’s movement and the people are the legitimate authority in making such a call. So true. In fact, we were completely taken by surprise with the joint announcement made by the two umbrella bodies of SoO groups.
Initially, the highway blockade came into force on May 4 as a sudden upsurge of public anger in Kangpokpi and it was the general public of Kangpokpi who had imposed the blockade, not through a call by any CSO or the Committee of Tribal Unity (COTU). So, as per the interjection made by UPF (Zomi) the blockade was a public movement and that it is the call of the people to take a call on whether to lift it or not. That is exactly why the residence of COTU chairman at Saparmeina was burnt by a mob that evening.
Now, another question which has been pestering the public mind is the new terms and conditions of the latest understanding between SoO groups and Kuki CSOs besides MLAs on one hand and the Union Home Ministry on the other. More specifically, what new assurances had been given by the ministry to the Kuki groups?
