Blockade New Strikes in Manipur
A fresh economic blockade stretching several districts has been resorted to in Manipur jsut this coming Tuesday as the Kuki-Zo Council imposed economic blockade across the districts. They claimed to do so as the direct consequence of government apathy to their demands for justice and representation.
It has now left residents on edge, as lifelines, including food and fuel, have begun to run short. This blockade has now added to the precarious situation that the state has been facing for almost months with ethnic tensions. Many see this as a prelude to another flare-up of strife.
Critics say that the council's actions, however much they draw attention to their grievances, ultimately punish the common people. “We appreciate their points of view, but this doesn't heal—this makes it worse,” said a shopkeeper in one of the riot-affected districts, Churachandpur.
The state has called on the public for restraint while promising a dialogue with the council. Opposition leaders said the government was also abandoning the core issues of the conflict.
Experts feel this blockade is a reflection of years of perceived marginalization and deep-seated anger by the Kuki-zo people. But many are not so sure whether this kind of tactic really pays in the end.
The people of Manipur remain at the center of this stalemate, living in the uncertainty of hoping that change and resolution will lean more toward peace than division.
