The themes of the programmes chosen by the organisers are self-explanatory. What, however, stands out is that apart from the venue in Manipur, the programmes are to be held also in Guwahati and New Delhi. The one in New Delhi, which is scheduled for May 1, has the format of a congregation under the aegis of pastors of churches. The ones in Lamka in Manipur and Chachal in Guwahati have been scheduled for May 3, when the ethnic flareup began. The organisers are Pastors’ prayer Fellowship in New Delhi, Guwahati Unau Pastors Fellowship in Guwahati with Kuki Worship Service as chosen spot and Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, Lamka in Churchandpur district that has remained in news since day one of the violence.

The occasions have been christened as Special Prayer Day in New Delhi, A Day of Remembrance and Retrospection in Guwahati and Separation Day – A Day of Separation from the Meiteis at Lamka. Thus, while the christening is in general terms at New Delhi and in Guwahati, it is most specific for the event at Lamka where the chosen site at Tuibuong is known as the Wall of Remembrance. Marking out the event at Lamka is the scheduled participation of representatives from Mizoram ; notably that of Lalmuanpuia Punte, advisor to chief minister of Mizoram – Lalduhoma – who is known to have taken care of a good number of victims in Manipur who were driven by circumstances to flee to his state for shelter and relief. [Lalduhoma is a former IPS officer, who had worked as security in-charge for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi since early 1980s ; he had earned fame for efficiency in Goa].

The programme in New Delhi has sessions devoted to prayer for “unity among us”, prayer for IDPs, students, CSOs, political leaders and church leaders [IDPs stands for internally displaced persons, CSOs for civil society organizations] and prayer for “proper political solution”. In Guwahati, sessions are to be devoted to silent tributes for martyrs, petitions, strengthening of ‘Unau’ unity and way forward for ‘Unau’ unity. The details of the sessions made available to IPA on behalf of the organisers show the names of nine outfits under the umbrella of ‘Unau’ welfare associations / societies in Guwahati. These are: Kuki Welfare Association, Hmar Welfare Society, Gangte Welfare Association, Simte Youth Organisation, Vaiphei Inkuon, Youg Paite Association, Zou Inkuon, Zomi Welfare Association and Tedim Chin Inkuan.

It is apparent that Kuki-Zos and other outfits mentioned earlier, who are pursuing common objectives, are intent on incorporating May 3 in their annual activity / event calendar for forcefully reminding the authorities at the Centre and in the state about their one-point demand for separate administration for the hill areas in the format of a union territory and a different one that ensures them adequate autonomy under the Constitution. Perhaps, this is for the first time since May 3, 2023 they have decided to move in a more organized way for realising their demand and that explains their initiative to include Guwahati and New Delhi too as venues for highlighting their demand. A vast majority of these people are Christians and are regular visitors to churches that are in sync with their tribal identities and segments of Christianity they identify themselves with for practicing their faith.

This explains the participation of senior church functionaries as speakers, some of whom are also office-bearers of CSOs they have for formed for carrying on their community welfare activity. This further explains the influence of churches on the Hills inhabitants in Manipur, as indeed elsewhere in the country. Their main grouse is that the Meiteis dominate the state administration and they are discriminated against in anything and everything which have a bearing on administrative matters. The Meiteis, on the other hand, argue that large numbers of the Hills inhabitants are illegal immigrants from Myanmar and they are associated with drug trafficking and clandestine opium cultivation. With the connivance of some officials, they have over the years ‘formed villages’ which do not find place in government records and used the areas for illegal activity. It goes without saying that the Hills people deny many of these charges.

Despite their tough posturing, the Union home ministry after lot of efforts succeeded in making the warring sides sit across the table for tripartite talks in New Delhi on April 5, Saturday. But, the ministry in the face of stiff opposition from the Kuki-Zo representatives, could not get a six-point draft accepted by them as a joint resolution. The ministry is keen on holding the second tripartite meeting early; but there is no indication yet as to when the exercise may be scheduled. (IPA Service)