Newmai News Network
Imphal: The Rongmei Naga People’s Organisation (RNPO) – Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, and elsewhere – said it is deeply concerned about the “flare-up of communal tension and ethnic violence” between the Kuki-Zo tribal groups and the Meitei community in the Jiribam areas of Manipur.
In a statement issued today, the RNPO said that in this flare-up, property worth crores of rupees has been burned down and destroyed on both sides. Additionally, the lives of innocent citizens of both communities have been affected. “The RNPO, on behalf of the entire Rongmei community, would like to appeal to the leaders, including civil society organizations and the general public of both communities, to extend an olive branch in order to save the innocent general public of both sides and their valuable property (assets).” The RNPO also appealed to “armed outfits and militant groups” of both communities to shun violence and engage in people-to-people dialogue to restore normalcy in the strife-torn state of Manipur as soon as possible in the larger public interest.
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The RNPO, while sharing the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families at the loss of their near and dear ones, strongly condemned the violent activities perpetrated by “mobs and armed outfits” against the innocent common public on both sides. The RNPO also appealed to both the central government and the state government to deploy adequate security to protect the lives and properties of the innocent public of both communities. The Rongmei body also urged both the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to intervene in this “ethnic violence” and bring an amicable and acceptable solution as soon as possible.
The RNPO then said that Jiribam is one of the smallest districts with a “cosmopolitan demography” in the state. It further said that Kuki-Zo, Rongmei Naga, Meitei, Meitei Pangal, Bengali, Khasi, and other communities have been residing together peacefully for many years, and that the “RNPO would like to appeal to all the communities concerned residing in the district to restore and maintain social harmony.”
Furthermore, the RNPO said Jiribam district borders Tamenglong district, whose population consists of Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, Inpui (Naga groups), and also some Kuki-Zo pockets and Khasi. The RNPO also appealed to both the state government and the people of the state to respect the sanctity of the district boundary of the respective districts “prior to the creation of seven new districts in 2016 by the Government of Manipur.”
The RNPO then reminded the people of the state, including those “conflicting communities,” that Naga people, in their consultative meeting under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) held on May 16, 2023, at Senapati, resolved that “Naga people as a whole in the state of Manipur would maintain neutrality but play the role of peacemaker in the ongoing Kuki-Zo Meitei ethnic conflict.” As the “Rongmei Naga group is part and parcel of the big Naga family, we have been maintaining neutrality with regard to the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities,” the RNPO added.
However, the RNPO said the Naga community has been extending humanitarian services to both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo innocent public whenever and wherever they have been in need of “our services.” Hence, the RNPO appealed to both the “conflicting communities” to always be aware of this position and not to harm the innocent Rongmei people and their properties wherever they live within and outside the state.
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