Nothing Great About June Riots in Imphal

By Liansailova Sailo

I read about an article regarding how Imphal based newspapers were fueling the disintegration of Manipur. And Its true.

AMUCO, UCM and other valley based organizations harp about Manipur integration; marking a day for integration and something more weird ’great June uprising.’ Not sure they got all the funny names.

Looking back, there was nothing great about the June Riots in Imphal, they burned the Indian flag, yet still beg to the Indian government for relief.

The Meitei-Tribal divide in Manipur is too deep now and from my observations from Mizoram, Manipur is heading for a divide whether the people in the valley like it or not.

Why?

1. Manipur Hills Tribals think and know that they will never be taken care in terms of development, when all the funds meant for the Hills are plundered in Imphal by Valley based militants. Unequal distribution of wealth.

2. Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act (Third Amendment) 2008 which will take away tribal rights.

3. Cultural, tribal and Religious Affinity – while Churachandpur has more affinity to Mizoram and the Rest of the Hills to Nagaland.

This is not a warning bell anymore, the disintegration has begun, every tribal in the Hills have spoken to their heart and decided, enough is enough, no more of our funds are going to get plundered, no more raping of girls by valley based militants, no more to being used as a human shield.

Yes, the valley organizations will also have some stunts to pull of, like blocking inquiry in raping of innocent girls, crying integration of Manipur but the axe have fallen.

The Manipur tribals have decided, its only time before the fruit ripens.

**The author is an observer and a research scholar based in Mizoram