meitei-body-warns-against-projecting-false-normalcy-in-manipur

Disquiet over Manipur’s fragile peace surfaced again on Friday, after a leading Meitei civil society group warned that the state’s decision to revive the Sangai Festival risked masking the continuing human cost of last year’s ethnic violence.

 

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) cautioned that the government’s eagerness to resume the annual tourism showcase, suspended since 2023, would project an “artificial normalcy” even as thousands of internally displaced persons remained in relief camps.

 

Addressing reporters in Imphal, COCOMI convenor Laikhuram Jayenta said the attempt to celebrate without resolving the crisis amounted to insensitivity towards those still unable to return home. “The conflict has displaced thousands of people, shattered livelihoods, and destroyed trust among communities and yet the government appears eager to showcase a false image of normalcy through festivals,” he said.

 

“It is not right to cover the harsh reality and show the world that peace has returned in the state when thousands of our people are still living in relief camps. The government cannot mislead by painting a rosy picture of peace when the wounds of the people remain fresh,” he added.

 

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Jayenta noted that the administration had earlier assured phased resettlement of displaced families, with some statements indicating that many would return by December. “However, no concrete action or visible progress has been seen on the ground. IDPs living in relief camps continue to suffer. Until peace and normalcy are truly restored, it is morally wrong to host a grand tourism festival,” he said.

 

The Sangai Festival, traditionally a 10-day cultural and tourism event held across multiple venues at the end of November, has been one of Manipur’s flagship attractions. The state government has been weighing the possibility of holding the 2025 edition, citing an improvement in law and order.

 

COCOMI, however, argued that pressing ahead without addressing the humanitarian and security challenges could deepen alienation. Jayenta said the festival’s purpose, to showcase Manipur’s cultural heritage, would be undermined if it ignored the pain of the displaced. The state “must first heal before celebrating,” he said.