In response to the prevailing violence in Manipur, a protest march was organized on Monday in Kangpokpi, a district significantly affected by unrest. The demonstration saw numerous participants advocating for the enforcement of the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) specifically in the valley regions of the state.
It's noteworthy that the AFSPA, legislation conferring special powers to the armed forces to maintain public order in areas identified as "disturbed", is already operative in Manipur's hill districts. However, the demonstrators, predominantly from the Kuki-Zo community, expressed their discontent against what they perceived as a biased decision by the Manipur assembly to revoke the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with militant groups in the hills.
The SoO pact, established on August 22, 2008, aimed at initiating a political dialogue with these armed factions. The protesters also demanded the reinstatement of APSFA in 19 police jurisdictions across the valley regions.
The protest coincided with the absence of ten Kuki-Zo MLAs, including two ministers, from the ongoing assembly session, drawing attention to a perceived lack of representation. Simultaneously, organizations such as Imagi Meira in valley districts advocated for action against these absentee Kuki MLAs.
Conversely, hill-based groups like the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) and the Indigenous Tribals Leader's Forum (ITLF) accused the state assembly of fostering communal sentiments, particularly due to its unanimous resolution urging the central government to nullify the SoO agreement with Kuki militant factions.
The escalating violence in Manipur since May 3, 2023, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts, has led to 219 reported casualties. This unrest stemmed from disputes over the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community, constituting the majority population in the Imphal Valley, contrasting with the tribal populace, mainly Nagas and Kukis, who form a significant portion of the hill districts.
