Manipur Conflict and Media : Journalists are never Peace activists
New Delhi
Getting there is easy, doing what to do, that is reporting objectively, is not. At the same time perhaps Stupidity is knowing the truth, seeing the truth, and yet still believing the lies.
In 2014 I interviewed Swedish journalist Bertil Lintner. He described himself as a journalist -- who is 'hated' and also 'admired a lot' by a lot of Nagas.Bertil has expertise about the region following a long experience of working in difficult terrains of Myanmar and other South East Asian countries.
To a question, he had said - "As I see it, the duty of the journalists is to be as objective as possible. To give the news impartially without fear or favour regardless of sects or interests involved".
He further added, "I was often appalled by the way in which Indian Nagas treated the Myanmar Nagas.
I had to write about that as well as religious fanaticism. The outcome was that the NSCN had banned my book 'Land of Jade'. The truth was probably too unpleasant...".
All these could be relevant to share in 2025 as we try to ponder about the unending conflict situations in Manipur.
The national media could not diagnose the real malady that led to the mess in Manipur. This is partly because the media in India today is generally lost in the 'war' either to blame the Modi government for all ills or to appreciate it for everything happening 'good' under the sky.
The Meiteis have about 54 per cent of the state's population and therefore the government in Manipur - irrespective of party affiliations - has always been dominated by Meiteis. Meiteis have 40 legislators in the 60-member
House while the tribals, mostly Christians account for only 20 seats. However, in the past the Congress veteran Rishan Keishing (a Tangkhul Naga) has been able to become Chief Minister more than once.
Again, the tribals comprising Nagas and Kukis make up 40 percent of Manipur’s population.
Paradoxically the 90 per cent of land is in the hills belonging to tribal-stronghold pockets. But the agriculturally fertile valley in and around the capital Imphal makes up only about a tenth of the total land mass of the state.
2023 : Local women and security forces
In political context Congress veteran and former Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and the present Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, are now seen as darlings of the Meitei population. Ibobi endeared himself to his people when as a Congress Chief Minister he defied the then Home Minister P Chidambaram's orders and 'did now allow' Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district in Manipur hills.
Even last year Chidambaram was left red-faced after his Tweet on Manipur ethnic communities led Ibobi to protest and the tweet was later deleted.
N Biren Singh also has an image of a 'protector' of Meitei interests and he had reportedly stalled the Union government to sign any pact with Naga rebels in 2019 that could force Manipur to give away some lands to the Nagas. The NSCN-IM has their issue of 'Nagalim' meaning Greater Nagaland -- but this demand has been outright rejected by the centre as well as the state of Manipur.
Look at yet another contrast; -- while Naga MLAs in Nagaland state have from time to time passed resolutions for striving to achieve 'greater Nagalim', the Manipur assembly including Naga legislators have adopted resolutions vowing to protect the 'territorial' integrity of Manipur state.
Nagas and Meiteis also clashed in the past and the state capital Imphal burned for days in 2001 after the Vajpayee government announced a ceasefire with NSCN-IM to the hills of Manipur. Meiteis took it as a stepping stone to disintegrate Manipur.
After 2023 Kuki-Meitei clashes, Nagas of Manipur said they were "brothers" of the Meiteis.
The religious divide does not matter much.
Thus to imagine that the problems in Manipur -- both existing and the past - could be comprehended easily is out of the question, especially by TV-savvy ivory tower experts of Delhi.
Interacting with me in 2014, Bertil also said : "My job is to present the readers with the truth. In the long run, I have seen the truth is always the strongest weapon for solving conflicts.
As a reporter, I am at best an educator but not a peace activist".
In the course of our discussions, Bertil also said - "....when the truth is properly reported or exposed and explained impartially... different parties in an ethnic or social conflict can sit down and solve their differences".
Well this may not be the time for stock taking. But each regional and various state media coverage offers unique dimensions.
If Imphal coverage has been generally a pro-Meitei tilt, stories from Mizoram have generally focused on how Kukis have suffered and how well the Mizoram administration and civil society have responded to their aid.
Kukis share ethnic bonds with Lushais and Hmars of Mizoram.
One critical observation from a so-called investigation team was-- a good many people including mainland media and intellectuals do not understand who really are responsible for the violence in Manipur that broke out on 3rd May, 2023.
"So smart has it been systematically pre-planned, executed and displayed to the outside world in such a way that the true identity of the perpetrators – Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun’ remained undetected.
Sadly, the victims who are at the receiving end of this state sponsored genocide are being portrayed as the culprits," such observation found faultlines with so-called pro-Meitei media.
Various versions of the conflicts have emerged. One such view is that the Kukis are being targeted and have been portrayed as poppy cultivators and illegal immigrants.
The Meiteis’ grouse is that they cannot buy 'tribal land' in their own homeland. So, they want the ST status.
It is more than just a job and university and medical and engineering education.
Arms recovered by Security Forces in Manipur
ends
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