Militancy and Negotiations: a Study of Suspension of Operation in Manipur

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Militancy and Negotiations: a Study of Suspension of Operation in Manipur Militancy and Negotiations: A Study of Suspension of Operation in Manipur Ch. Sekholal Kom* To resolve conflict and avoid the use of force, it is said, one must negotiate - Fred C. Iklé Abstract One of the most striking features of militancy in Northeast India in general and Manipur in particular is how infrequently the two sides (Government and the militants) attempt peaceful negotiation. Very often, the government refuses to grant the militants legitimacy as a bargaining partner. On the other, militants in the region are averse to go into negotiation with the government whom they confront. However, in spite of this phenomenon, confrontations do reach a point at a certain stage where both sides agree to negotiate rather than confront each other. Remarkably, the present tripartite truce popularly known as Suspension of Operation (SoO) between the Government of India and the state government of Manipur on one side and the Kuki militants on the other turns out to be a significant development. The paper discusses how this negotiation can be attributed as a technique of alternative dispute resolution in a multi-ethnic situation particularly in a conflict-ridden state like Manipur. Right since the dawn various militant ethnic groups. of independence of the Although Naga militancy was the country, Northeast first to make its headway in the India has been witnessing a region, movements by other series of challenges such as ethnicities followed it. Notably, the unceasing demands for autonomy militant activities of the Nagas, the and even outright secessions by Kukis, the Bodos, and the Assamese *Ch. Sekholal Korn is a Ph. D. student in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India Journal of Peace Studies 70 Vol 18, Issue 1&2, January-June, 2011 MILITANCY AND NEGOTIATIONS: A STUDY OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATION IN MANIPUR etc. have continued for a long time. Over the years, militancy in the region has become the most resorted Of late, the demands for self- means of ethnic assertion and determination in the Northeast, bargaining even for securing where people are increasingly economic and political advantages identifying themselves on the basis from the centre. Although militancy of ethnic alliance, language and or terrorism has been considered to territoriality, have turned the region be the bane of the region, its precise into an inferno. Today, there are connotation still eludes the analysts demands for not less than 20 new worldwide. Generally, militancy is states by different ethnic militants considered as use of violence by a inhabiting the region, which discontented group to achieve its aggravate inter-ethnic relations and desired goal.1 However, it is not the complicate the task of governance. same as an association of armed Over the years, Manipur presents robbers or dacoits; but rather it is born itself as one of the most troubled out of some committed ideologies of states in India, wracked by inter- a particular group, a tribe, a 2 ethnic strife and militarization of community, religious or secular. ethnic groups in the pursuit of different causes. The situation is Inspite of impediments associated further escalated by competing with militancy the signing of tri- claims and clashing ideologies. On partite truce popularly known as the one hand, sections of Meitei youth Suspension of Operation (SoO) demand secession from India, whilst between the Government of India the Nagas and the Kukis demand and the state government of Manipur their respective ethnic homelands to on one side and the Kuki militants be carved out of their areas of under two camps— Kuki National inhabitation. Not only does Manipur Organisation (KNO) and United have the highest number of ethnic People’s Front (UPF) on the other as militias in the country but also it has a process of negotiation is a the highest incidence of inter-ethnic significant development for the state conflicts. These were unknown in of Manipur. Negotiation as a process Manipur in earlier decades, but they of peaceful settlement of disputes is have turned out to be an integral part thus expected to result in concrete in Manipuri politics since the 1980s, settlement of ethnic conflict. In making the state one of the most simplest terms, negotiation may be panic-stricken in the region. termed as a discussion between two Journal of Peace Studies 71 Vol 18, Issue 1&2, January-June, 2011 MILITANCY AND NEGOTIATIONS: A STUDY OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATION IN MANIPUR or more disputants who are trying to primary method of alternative work out a solution to their problem.3 dispute resolution. Fred C. Ikle It is a process of communication in defines negotiation as ‘a process in which the parties aim to “send a which explicit proposals are put message” to the other side and forward ostensibly for the purpose of influence each other.4 This reaching agreement on an exchange interpersonal or inter-group process or on the realization of a common can occur at a personal level, as well interest where conflicting interests as at a corporate or international are present’. Negotiation is also a (diplomatic) level. method of conflict resolution, and as such, it is used in modeling of Negotiations typically take place decision process. Mutual adjustment because the parties wish to create is one of the key causes of the changes something new that neither could that occur during a negotiation. As attempt on their own, or to resolve a negotiations evolve, each side problem or dispute between them.5 proposes changes to the other party’s The parties acknowledge that there position and makes changes to its is some conflict of interest between own.8 them and think they can use some form of influence to get a better deal, Ethnic Equations in rather than simply taking what the Manipur 6 other side will voluntarily give them. Manipur is inhabited by numerous It is a search for agreement rather ethnic communities and it has been than to fight openly, give in, or break noted as the most notorious spot for 7 off contact. violent conflicts and as a minefield of militant activities. A very large Further, negotiation can be termed proportion of ethnic groups have as a dialogue intended to resolve formed their militant outfits and disputes, to produce an agreement asserting their identities in the state. upon courses of action, to bargain for Manipur presents itself as a classic individual or collective advantage, or case of linguistic and ethno-cultural to craft outcomes to satisfy various diversity. Political mobilization along interests. It is a form of decision- ethnic lines seems to have deepened making with two or more actively the process of ethnic separation and involved agents who cannot make self-identification and much of the decisions independently, and politics in Manipur today thus therefore must make concessions to appears to swivel around the question achieve a compromise. It is the of preserving one’s ethnic identity. Journal of Peace Studies 72 Vol 18, Issue 1&2, January-June, 2011 MILITANCY AND NEGOTIATIONS: A STUDY OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATION IN MANIPUR In spite of all its limitations, the social groups in the state; (ii) limited democratic experiment in Manipur social and cultural interaction has come a long way. What we between the different ethnic groups witness at present is perhaps not the despite the physical and linguistic revival of primordial identities of the affinities among them and (iii) past; but it is the construction of heightened importance of historical modern ethnic identities vis-à-vis the and religious differences in political newly created nation-state of India. struggles against the dominance of The Annual Report of the Indian larger and more powerful ethnic Government’s Ministry of Home groups.10 Consequently, the process Affairs in 2007-08 states, “Manipur of ethnic realignment as ‘Kuki’ or continues to be affected by the ‘Naga’ for a collective identity is activities of a large number of gathering momentum. militant/insurgent outfits divided on ethnic lines with competing Today, Manipur is caught in ethnic demands. In Manipur, every ethnic quagmire with three main ethnic group no matter how small, wants to groups namely, the Meiteis, the protect, preserve and cherish its Nagas and the Kukis indulging in a identity at all cost”. Today, every systematic and articulated campaign tribe9 maintains a distinct socio- of ethnic assertion and consolidation political organization working for the in the process of expanding their consolidation of linguistic-cultural respective spheres of influence. uniformity; for example, the Currently, there are more than 40 Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) was militant groups in Manipur alone formed in 1929, the Komrem Union focusing on their separate ethnic and in 1937, the Zeliangrong Naga Union sub-ethnic identities.11 Different (ZNU) in 1947, theVaiphei National ethnic groups have different Assembly (VNA) in 1947, the aspirations invariably conflicting Pangan Union (PU) in 1947, the Paite with each other. National Council (PNC) in 1949, and the Zomi National Congress and the Comparatively, Manipur appears to Mao Union (MU) in 1971 be an ethnic cauldron that has kept boiling for decades by the The emergence of distinct contradictory processes of ethnicities in Manipur is believed to assimilation and preservation of be a consequence of the following ethnic identity. The most striking factors: (i) distinctive social and feature of the social order of Manipur cultural identities manifested by all is perhaps its heterogeneity. The Journal of Peace Studies 73 Vol 18, Issue 1&2, January-June, 2011 MILITANCY AND NEGOTIATIONS: A STUDY OF SUSPENSION OF OPERATION IN MANIPUR situation is further aggravated by the Presently, there are 33 recognized complex demographic settings of tribes of Manipur who are politically Manipur. The hills which form nine- grouped as Kukis or Nagas.12 The tenth of the total geographical area Kukis of Manipur include Aimol, of the state are inhabited by the Gangte, Hmar, Kom, Koireng, Mizo, tribals, both Kuki and Naga, and the Paite, Ralte, Simte, Sukte, Thadou, valley is inhabited by the majority Vaiphei and Zou tribes.13 The Meiteis.
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