IMPHAL: Naga People’s Initiative for Peace (NPIP), “which has consistently worked towards fostering understanding, reconciliation, and harmonious coexistence among the major communities of Manipur”, has expressed deep concern over the recurring tensions and violence in Manipur.
NPIP, in a statement issued on Friday by its convenor Mani Charenamei and co-convenor Lokho Puni, said that for generations, the diverse communities of Manipur have shared space and history, while nurturing distinct aspirations shaped by their geographical contexts and social standing, often interpreted through the policies and approaches of successive governing authorities.
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“In Manipur, most of the communities have experienced the loss of lives and properties, as well as the profound evils brought about by hatred, fear, and mistrust during periods of ethnic conflict, particularly the painful confrontations among communities and there is a risk of repeating the Naga and Kuki communal clash if the present violence at Litan is not brought under control immediately”, said the NPIP statement. It also said such senseless conflicts brought nothing but grief-deepening divisions, breeding suspicion, stalling progress and development, and depriving communities of valuable opportunities to collaborate for their shared rights and collective future.
According to NPIP, violence has never resolved differences; it has only widened divides and prolonged suffering. It also said peace, though often demanding patience and restraint, remains the only sustainable path toward stability, justice, and prosperity. “In this spirit, NPIP sincerely appeals, first and foremost, to the leaders of the Meitei, Naga and Kuki communities to uphold the sanctity of peace and give dialogue a genuine chance to restore normalcy in the state”, it stated, adding, “Leadership at this critical juncture calls for wisdom, courage, and a commitment to rise above immediate grievances for the greater good of all”.
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NPIP then “fervently” appealed to the Tangkhul and Kuki community leaders in the Litan area to shun violence and actively work toward rebuilding trust and peaceful relations between their communities. Localized tensions, if left unaddressed, risk undermining broader efforts toward reconciliation across Manipur, it added.
At the same time, NPIP “earnestly” appealed to both the State Government and Central Government to relentlessly strive to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. The government bears a constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of every citizen, irrespective of community, NPIP stated. It also urged the authorities to act without partiality, strengthen confidence-building measures, facilitate dialogue among stakeholders, and take proactive steps to ensure justice and fairness to all communities.
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At this defining moment, NPIP said, “Let us choose restraint over retaliation, dialogue over discord, and reconciliation over resentment”. It also said the future of Manipur depends not on the triumph of one community over another, but on the collective determination of all its peoples to live in dignity, mutual respect, and peace.
NPIP then said it “remains steadfast” in its commitment to support every effort that advances healing, strengthens inter-community bonds, and nurtures a just and peaceful society.