Imphal: Restoring trust between communities is the only path to peace in Manipur. The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) hosted an academic discourse on July 28 to address the three-year crisis. The event, titled Reshaping the Political Upheaval in Manipur: Issues and Challenges, took place at the Manipur Institute of Management Studies conference hall.
Academics, students, and community leaders attended to debate social, historical, and economic angles. B.M. Yaima Shah chaired the meeting, while former Human Rights Commission head Khaidem Mani moderated. Resource persons included retired IAS officer R.K. Nimai, Wangam Somorjit of the ARC Library and Archives, and professors Hanjabam Isworchandra Sharma and Kangujam Sanatomba.
Conflict drains the state. FOCS spokesperson Puram Rakesh warned that prolonged unrest pushes Manipur backward. He argued that current restrictions and buffer zones have damaged relations between groups. He noted, "Rebuilding trust between different communities remains the most important step towards ending the conflict."
FOCS plans to compile recommendations from the event for officials and the public. They will use these findings to guide future peace initiatives. The organization intends to keep pushing for dialogue between policymakers and community leaders to reach a lasting solution.
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