Thousands of Naga and Meitei protesters held a joint sit-in at Khwairamband Ima Keithel in Imphal, demanding a Special Assembly Session, justice for conflict victims and withdrawal of the SoO agreement.
Imphal, July 7: Thousands of people from the Naga, Meitei, Meitei Pangal and other communities gathered at Khwairamband Ima Keithel in Imphal on Tuesday, staging a joint sit-in protest to demand justice for victims of the ongoing ethnic conflict, immediate government intervention to restore peace, and the convening of a Special Session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The demonstration was jointly organised by the Naga People's Union Imphal (NPUI), Imphal Naga Business Association, Foothill Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC), Khwairamband Nupi Keithel, Imagi Meira, FMCC, UZCC and the Committee on Coordinated Response and Rehabilitation (CCRR). It marked one of the rare occasions in recent months where members of the Naga and Meitei communities jointly participated in a public protest over the prolonged crisis in the state.
Participants assembled from the morning, many wearing traditional attire, and raised slogans including "Long Live Manipur" and "Stop Arresting the Village Volunteers", while calling for justice, peace and accountability.
The protesters urged the Manipur Government to immediately convene a Special or Monsoon Session of the State Assembly to discuss the prevailing security situation, the hardships faced by the people and measures required to restore normalcy.
They also called on the government to implement assurances earlier given by the Governor and evolve a concrete roadmap for ending the violence that has affected the state since May 2023.
Another major demand raised during the protest was the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki armed groups. Protesters alleged that the existing arrangement had failed to ensure peace and demanded stronger action against those responsible for violence.
The gathering also appealed for the release of village volunteers from both the Naga and Meitei communities who have been arrested in connection with the conflict, maintaining that they had acted to protect their villages and local communities.
Addressing the gathering, Kshetrimayum Shanti of Khwairamband Keithel said the joint participation of people from the hills and the valley reflected a collective desire to restore peace in Manipur.
She alleged that peace could not be achieved unless the SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups was withdrawn and justice was delivered to all those who had lost their lives or remained missing during the conflict.
Shanti said several public rallies and memorandums had already been submitted to the authorities but claimed that the demands of the people had not received an adequate response. She urged both the State and Central Governments to fulfil their responsibilities and take immediate steps to restore lasting peace.
FNCC Convenor Akhiyu said the protest sought justice for victims from both the Naga and Meitei communities and condemned search operations and arrests involving village volunteers. He asserted that those responsible for the violence must be identified and prosecuted, stating that durable peace would not be possible without accountability.
Akhiyu also urged the government to convene the Assembly at the earliest to discuss the concerns of the people, warning that continued inaction could lead to growing public dissatisfaction.
Several speakers referred to the killing of six Naga civilians who were allegedly abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village more than a month ago.
Speaking to reporters, Imagi Meira convenor Sujata Thokchom alleged that Kuki armed groups had targeted indigenous Naga and Meitei communities during the conflict while accusing the government of failing to deliver justice to victims. She claimed that despite one Kuki organisation allegedly admitting involvement in the killings, those responsible had yet to be arrested or punished.
According to the organisers, families of the six victims have continued to refuse to claim the bodies, demanding that those responsible first be identified and prosecuted.
Naga activist Ashang Kasar alleged that the bodies of the six civilians remained at the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences nearly 40 days after the incident as relatives continued to await justice. He questioned the government's handling of the case and urged authorities to expedite the investigation and prosecute those responsible.
Former President of the Naga Women's Union, Grace Thumra Shatsang, described the continued violence and the killing of the six civilians as evidence of what she termed a "total failure" of the government to manage the crisis.
She said that if timely action had been taken, the situation might not have deteriorated to its present level. According to her, the families of the victims were seeking justice for their loved ones, whose deaths had left widows, orphaned children and grieving communities. She said the scale of public participation in the protest reflected widespread anguish over the killings and the prolonged conflict.
The protesters also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the killing of the six Naga civilians and sought justice for more than 30 Meitei persons who remain missing since the outbreak of the ethnic violence.
