On November 16, 2024 that a major protest erupted in the Imphal Valley in Manipur due to the identification of three corpses in the Jiribam district. A women and two children were retrieved from the river at the juncture of the Jiri and Barak rivers in Manipur-Assam. That unfortunate event has led to a lot of protests among the populace within the Imphal Valley of Manipur.
Findings and initial perceptions
The bodies were found on the night of 15/11/2024 and were then taken for autopsies to Silchar Medical College Hospital in the Assam. The victims were feared to be among six missing people from a relief camp in Jiribam after a gun battle between security forces and militants this week. Of the missing people, three were women and three children. Local Meitei organisations claimed that these people were kidnapped by retreating militants.
When the news of the discovery leaked out, the lit of Imphal valley was filled with people protesting. Many women of all ages and enhancement groups of people came out on the roads shocking cars and burning tyres. The riot protests were most violent in the localities of Kwakeithel and Sagolband Tera in Imphal West district of Manipur as well as Khwairamband which is the market in Manipur.
Broader context of Ethnic Clashes
The Jiribam experience is not an isolated event; ethnic conflict is rife in Manipur since May 2023. The conflict is particularly between the Meiteicommunity in the Imphal valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the adjacent hills. These conflicts have caused loss of over 200 lives and have left thousands of people without home.
Jiribam is an ethnically diverse district; most of the area had been spared from any form of violence until recently. However, the crisis reached the new level in June 2024 when the brutally murdered farmer was discovered in the countryside, and demonstrators killed several cops, using firearms. The discovery of three new bodies has unfortunately worsened the situation making the natives to panic as well as get angry.
Response and Security Measures taken by the Government
Because of the confrontation, the state government decided to close schools and colleges on November 16, 2024, to avoid further violence. Platoons of police were deployed all over Imphal in order to restore peace. Nevertheless, business establishments and markets still did not open to address the protest against the killings. The police continue to search for the other people who went missing and are conducting an investigation on how the people died. The state government has also appealed for being calm and encouraged the people to work hand in hand with the government to sustain the peace that exists in the area.
The Suffering and Advocacy of People
The finding of the bodies and the following protests represent the downtrodden of the ethnic war in Manipur. The victims were displaced persons residing in a relief camp, thereby illustrate some of the vulnerable groups that are always at the grille of such conflicts. It has led to a revival of activism by the local NGOs forcing the government to call for an uninterrupted and speedy trial of the case.
Understanding the Ethnic Conflicts Emergence and Management Initiatives on Ethnic conflicts
Ethnic conflicts are not unreserved but rather involve interaction of historical, social, economic or even political forces. Such conflicts result in high levels of human losses, displacements and socio-economic unrest. It is therefore important to recognize the factors that lead to the occurrence of ethnic conflicts, and facilitate implementation of adequate administrative measures in the society.
Factors causing outbreak of ethnic conflicts
- Historical Grievances: Ethnic groups have tendencies to maintain a record of previous happenings like colonization, forceful migration, previous wars and so on which do produce long-standing grievance. These issues are capable of recurring and cause new conflicts.
- Cultural Differences: Language, religion, culture and all these aspects may lead to racialism between the ethnic groups. These cultural differences can be the cause of conflict however, where one culture feels under pressure from the other due to a clash of self-perception, or more accurately, and identity conflict.
- Economic Inequality: Ethnic groups who differ in their economic capabilities will always be in a position to compete and anger will always develop in between. Lack of equal participation in education, employment and healthcare can lead to such tensions.
- Political Power Struggles: Political competition and dimension of political, power and representation occur ethnic conflicts. Minuscule groups also do not have a say in decision making and therefore use force in demand for their rights.
- Territorial Disputes: Ethnic conflict may be hinged on disagreement over the ownership of land and other resources. Competency for fertile land, water and mineral endowment resource brings about conflict, and sometimes violent conflict.
Preventive Administrative Actions in Relation to Ethnic Conflict Emergence
- Promoting Dialogue and Negotiation: Ethnic conflicts therefore require free flow of communications for their solution to be realized. Enabling common actors to complain or to negotiate the means to solve contentious issues is made possible when a dialogue is enabled between conflicting parties. Inept intermediaries can assist in the achievement of maintaining a rational tone for dialogues.
- Ensuring Inclusive Governance: Feelings of marginalisation and exclusion could also be complemented by them as a result of proper governance structures that accommodate all the ethnical groups. Thus, if all groups are to be allowed a say when decisions that affect them are being made then differential representation can help to ease tensions.
- Economic Development and Redistribution: This is evident in cases where effort has been made to balance this aspect through direction of development programs and general distribution of resources. Access to education, employment and health care services is some of the ways through which imbalances in the economy can be prevented leading to better social relations.
- Cultural Sensitivity and Respect: An important primary social issue that can be addressed at grassroots level is promotion of cultural tolerance and understanding of other cultures and their traditions and values. Promoting inter-cultural communication can help to create common cultural and organisational identity and purpose.
- Legal and Institutional Reforms: There is the need to design legal and institutional changes that will provide minority groups with rights to protect them from conflict. Promoting the supply of the right for justice and maintaining the rights of minorities can construct a close-knit society.
Measures to Be Taken When Ethnic Conflict Erupts
- Immediate Response: Once ethnic conflict occurs, the priority is to begin detailed coordination of armed forces to requite order and supply humanitarian aid to the affected population. Protection of security forces to quell unrest and disorder, and provision of other formal supports, such as, medical help, food and shelter to the affected populations constitutes an important procedure.
- Conflict Resolution Initiatives: Bringing dumping grounds of conflict resolution and peace building undertakings as mediators and intermediary organizations can go along way in finding the bearings to the conflict. Participation of local leaders, other representatives of the community, as well as other influential members of a society can enhance trust in such civil matters and may be deemed as a way of reconciliation.
- Long-Term Development Programs: In order to avoid subsequent conflict it is crucial to undertake long-term development plans that pose solution to economic, social and political imbalances. Education financial investment, infrastructure and job creation can therefore foster more stability and better economy for the society.
- International Support and Cooperation: Everyone knows that the search for international support and cooperation will complement the resolution of conflicts. Use of international organizations political; biodiversity and other related bodies like United Nations and other regional organizations in the management of ethnic conflicts can also be a good point of call.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: To this end, creating a framework for supervising and assessing the conflict resolution measures implies its successful accomplishment. This would mean that sustainability of the various approaches towards the achievement of the overall goal of attaining sustainable peace could also be determined through routine appraisal of events in the region so as to enable timely methodological innovations where necessary.
Jiri River
The Jiri River is a popular stream in the northeastern region of India with the other name Jiriakhal. The Jiri River has its origin in the Manipur hill’s Manipur valley and flows through the length and breadth of the state and merges with Barak River. The river runs across the Jiribam district, which lies close to the state of Manipur and district of Assam. Jiribam, being an important district, is considered as the entry point of Manipur.
The Jiri River as a geographical formation is not just a river but also a natural resource and probably the life line of the people in that area. To some of these inhabitants along the shores, it supplies water for domestic purposes, irrigation, and fishing. River valley is fully utilized with agricultural activities since the fertile soils along the lines of the riverbank are suitable for the production of crops like rice, vegetables, and pulses among others.
Furthermore, the river is heavily endowed with various forms of aquatic forms of life that could support and sustain the inhabitants and provide economic returns. This is because an influential number of families living closely to the river of Jiri depends their lively hoods on fishing. The waters of the river also serve important functions, establishing the necessary conditions for the development of the necessary species of plants and animals.
Barak River
The Barak is one of the many important water channels of northeastern part of India and its drainage region covers the states of Manipur, Mizoram, and Assam. It rises in the Manipur hill and passing through the Cachar district of Assam enters Bangladesh and merges with the Meghna river system.
The Barak River forms an important water system for millions of people by allowing them to carry out irrigational, drinking and industrial purpose. Flood plain land of the river is very productive and hence there are vast areas of agricultural production. The river has brought into form the Barak valley, originated mostly for the green field for Agriculture crop production of rice, tea and horticulture products. The water in the river is also used for hydropower generation and thus a source of power for the region.
However, for ecological purpose and the support of the Barak River area’s biotic system, is one of the key contributions that the river brings to the region. Fish and other related species of the river and the tributary include fish species, plants as well as wildlife species. It acts as a breeding ground for birds especially migrants, boosting the possibilities of the region’s biological diversity. Wetlands and marshes of the river are important for the sustenance of the ecology of the region and also to support the population of species.
Meitei community
The Meitei community that occupies the northeastern Indian state of Manipur dominates the region’s demography. The Meitei’s who are originally settled in the valley of Imphal are famous for their cultural film, festival pattern, dance, and traditional martial art form.
Meitei people speak Manipuri which is a minority language spoken in the Manipur region belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family. The people of the community adopt a mix of Sanamahism and Hinduism and most of the Meiteis are followers of the two religions. Lai Haraoba and Yaoshang are some of the most esteems festivals among them.
Historically, the Meitei kingdom, known as Kangleipak, played a significant role in the region's politics and culture. The Meiteis have a written history right from the first century A.D. The community's contributions to literature, arts, and sports are noteworthy, with Manipuri dance and polo being recognized globally.
Today, the Community occupies much importance in the social, economic and political fabric of the Manipur. They have been able to maintain and sustain their cultural front in the real essence and form, while at the same time adopting progressive changes.