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What provoked the ethnic violence in India’s Manipur?

Violence escalates in Manipur, India, with 120 killed in ethnic clashes since May. Meitei-Kuki tensions erupt over recognition, triggering unrest, displacement, and destruction. Government under scrutiny for response.

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1 year ago

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NEW DELHI, INDIA — At least 120 people have been killed since May in armed clashes in Manipur, a remote state in northeast India with a history of ethnic conflict.

Soldiers were rushed in from other parts of the country to contain the violence, and months later a curfew and internet shutdown remain in force across most of the state.

Thousands of guns were stolen when the unrest began, and militia groups on both sides of the state’s ethnic divide are hunkering down for a protracted fight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week faces a no-confidence motion in parliament over the violence, with the opposition accusing him of inaction.

AFP looks at the origins of the conflict and its consequences:

Why did the latest violence start?

The dispute stems from animosity between Manipur’s Meitei majority and the Kuki, one of several tribal groups in the state that make up about 16 per cent of its population.

The Meitei are predominantly Hindu and largely live in urban centres, while the mainly Christian Kuki usually live in scattered settlements in the state’s hills.

Longstanding tensions between the two communities have revolved around competition for land and public jobs, with rights activists accusing local leaders of exacerbating ethnic divisions for political gain.

Things came to a head in May over plans to recognise the Meitei as a “Scheduled Tribe” — a status already conferred upon the Kuki.

This would grant them a form of affirmative action through guaranteed quotas of government jobs and college admissions.

Kuki groups staged protests over fears the plans could reduce their own entitlements, with rallies quickly spiralling into violence.

Protesters set fire to vehicles and buildings, and Meitei mobs armed with guns and petrol cans then attacked Kuki settlements in the hills.

What has happened since?

Mobs looted police stations when the clashes began, with 3,000 weapons and 600,000 rounds of ammunition going missing according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

The state has fractured on ethnic lines, with rival Meitei and Kuki militias setting up blockades to keep out members of the opposing community.

Clashes have killed at least 120 people, though many in Manipur believe the number could be higher.

Some 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, taking shelter in relief centres or nearby states.

Reprisal attacks have seen the firebombing of homes and places of worship.

More than 220 churches and 17 Hindu temples had been destroyed by the end of July, according to a report by India Today news magazine.

Has Manipur seen unrest before?

Manipur is one of seven northeast Indian states — sandwiched between Bangladesh, China and Myanmar — that has long been a hotbed of separatism and a tinderbox of tensions between different ethnic groups.

An armed rebellion broke out against Indian rule in the late 1970s by Manipuri militants who said the region had been largely neglected by New Delhi, with daily armed attacks on government facilities.

Around 20 militant groups were active in Manipur during the peak of the insurgency, with more than 10,000 people losing their lives in the two decades to 2010.

But the state has been relatively calm since the last major rebel attack in 2015, when an ambush on a military convoy killed around 20 soldiers.

The latest violence has revived calls among the Kuki to be granted a separate state administration.

This demand has been rejected outright by the Meitei, who make up more than half of the state’s 2.8 million population, according to India’s last census in 2011.

How has the government responded?

Sporadic violence has continued despite India rushing in troops from out of state when the clashes began, as well as imposing a curfew and internet shutdown that both remain in force.

Indian home minister Amit Shah toured Manipur’s capital in June and demanded the return of weapons seized from police stations during the unrest.

He has also promised an “impartial investigation” into the violence.

Modi was criticised by opponents for not speaking about the conflict for more than two months after clashes began.

He broke his silence in July after the publication of a graphic video showing a baying mob parading two Kuki women naked, saying that the incident had filled his heart with “pain and anger”.

Human Rights Watch has accused state authorities in Manipur, led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, of facilitating the conflict with “divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism”.

India’s parliament is this week debating a no-confidence motion against Modi for his government’s failure to rein in the conflict — a vote he is expected to easily survive.

— AFP

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India

India-Singapore relations deepen as Modi’s visit yields major agreements, reports Indian media

Indian media reports that during Narendra Modi’s visit, India and Singapore signed key agreements in healthcare, defense, trade, and digital economy. These include collaborations in FinTech, renewable energy, and maritime security.

Published

2 weeks ago

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6 September 2024

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore has resulted in a broad range of agreements across key sectors, marking another high point in India-Singapore relations.

One of the most significant achievements of the visit was the healthcare cooperation agreement, where India and Singapore agreed to collaborate on various aspects of healthcare delivery, medical research, and digital health solutions.

According to a report from the Times of India, this healthcare pact aims to strengthen both nations’ capacities to manage public health challenges, improve access to affordable healthcare, and explore cutting-edge digital health technologies.

Healthcare Agreement and Digital Health Solutions

Under the new healthcare agreement, India and Singapore will engage in joint research on medical technologies, exchange best practices in public health management, and explore the development of digital healthcare tools.

This comes as both nations face the challenges of managing their healthcare systems, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the need for resilient healthcare infrastructure.

Singapore’s expertise in digital healthcare systems and India’s vast pharmaceutical capabilities are said to play complementary roles in shaping this partnership.

A focus will also be placed on digital health platforms, with both countries exploring how telemedicine, electronic health records, and AI-driven healthcare innovations can improve healthcare delivery.

The agreement sets the stage for potential joint ventures between Indian and Singaporean companies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, creating opportunities for cross-border investment and knowledge-sharing.

Key Economic and Trade Agreements

In addition to healthcare, Modi’s visit also solidified key economic agreements aimed at expanding trade and investment between the two nations.

A major highlight was the renewal and expansion of the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which serves as the foundation of their bilateral economic ties.

Under the expanded CECA, both nations have agreed to ease barriers to trade, simplify customs procedures, and enhance market access for goods and services, particularly in the areas of digital commerce and FinTech.

India, with its rapidly expanding digital economy, sees Singapore as a strategic partner in its push toward becoming a global hub for digital trade.

The Times of India report emphasized that the agreement includes specific provisions to boost cross-border digital payments, making it easier for businesses in both countries to engage in seamless trade. This is seen as a critical move in aligning India’s digital aspirations with Singapore’s status as a global financial hub.

Additionally, Singapore’s interest in India’s growing renewable energy market, particularly in solar energy, was reaffirmed.

The two nations agreed to collaborate on renewable energy initiatives, with Singapore exploring investments in India’s large-scale solar power projects, which have the potential to benefit both nations in achieving their climate goals.

Defense and Maritime Security Cooperation

Beyond economics, Modi’s visit also advanced defense cooperation, particularly in maritime security.

India and Singapore have shared strategic interests in ensuring the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, and the new defense pacts emphasize joint naval exercises, intelligence sharing, and enhanced coordination on maritime law enforcement.

The agreements reflect a mutual commitment to safeguarding crucial maritime trade routes in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, which are vital for global trade.

The defense agreements build upon existing collaborations, with a renewed focus on joint military exercises and the exchange of personnel for training.

Singapore’s defense forces are expected to participate in more frequent naval drills with their Indian counterparts, particularly in combating piracy and securing sea lanes against potential threats.

FinTech and Digital Economy Integration

FinTech collaboration was another highlight of Modi’s visit, as both nations signed agreements to deepen their cooperation in the digital financial services sector. Singapore, as a leader in FinTech, is seen as a key player in helping India achieve its digital finance goals.

The agreements will facilitate smoother cross-border digital payments and promote the use of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Singapore. This marks an important step in integrating financial technologies between the two countries, as Indian tourists and businesspeople will be able to use UPI-based services during their visits to Singapore.

Furthermore, Singapore’s expertise in blockchain technology and regulatory frameworks for digital finance will be leveraged to assist Indian regulators in building a robust ecosystem for FinTech innovations.

Both countries have expressed a shared vision of creating a seamless digital economy that benefits from innovation in financial services.

As the Times of India report highlighted, the visit has positioned India and Singapore as key partners in navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing global landscape, with both nations committed to pursuing greater economic integration and regional stability.

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Diplomacy

India PM Narendra Modi meets with PM Lawrence Wong; Four MoUs signed

India’s PM Modi visited Singapore, signing four MoUs with PM Wong to boost cooperation in digital technology, semiconductors, healthcare, and education. The visit strengthens bilateral ties and elevates their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, enhancing economic and diplomatic relations.

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2 weeks ago

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5 September 2024

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India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Singapore strengthens bilateral ties

SINGAPORE: India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, arrived in Singapore on Wednesday (4 Sept) for an official visit at the invitation of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Accompanied by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and other senior officials, PM Modi’s visit marks a significant step in the strengthening of India-Singapore relations, ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their bilateral strategic partnership, both set to be celebrated in 2025.

On Thursday (5 Sept), PM Modi and PM Wong held talks in Singapore City, resulting in the signing of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at bolstering cooperation across various sectors.

These agreements signal the elevation of their bilateral ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

The agreements were exchanged in the presence of PM Modi and PM Wong at Singapore’s Parliament House, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan representing their respective countries.

The first MoU, signed between Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information and India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, focuses on enhancing cooperation in digital technologies, such as Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), cybersecurity, 5G, and emerging technologies like supercomputing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence.

It also includes initiatives for upskilling and reskilling workers in the digital domain.

India-Singapore Partnership in Semiconductor Industry

The second MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, establishes a partnership in the semiconductor sector.

The agreement will facilitate collaboration on semiconductor cluster development and talent nurturing, as well as investments by Singaporean companies in India’s semiconductor industry.

The third MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Singapore’s Ministry of Health, aims to promote cooperation in health and medicine.

It includes joint efforts in research and innovation, human resource development in healthcare, and support for Indian healthcare professionals in Singapore.

The fourth MoU, signed between India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Singapore’s Ministry of Education, focuses on educational cooperation and skills development, particularly in technical and vocational education and training.

This agreement complements ongoing initiatives between the two nations in skill development.

Following the discussions, PM Modi expressed his satisfaction with the talks in a post on social media platform X, highlighting the focus on cooperation in areas such as skilling, technology, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India also released a statement noting that the two leaders reviewed the progress of India-Singapore bilateral relations and decided to elevate their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a move expected to significantly boost India’s Act East Policy.

PM Modi also congratulated PM Wong on his recent appointment as Singapore’s Prime Minister, expressing confidence in the continued progress of Singapore under the leadership of its fourth-generation leaders.

The MEA further emphasized Singapore’s role as a leading economic partner for India, with investments totaling around US$150 billion in the Indian economy.

The two leaders also reviewed cooperation in defense, security, maritime domain awareness, education, financial technology, new technology domains, science and technology, and knowledge partnership.

They emphasized the importance of strengthening connectivity between the two countries to enhance economic and people-to-people ties.

On 5 September, PM Modi also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and senior ministers.

He will also engage with Singaporean business leaders and hold discussions with key figures in the semiconductor sector.

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