AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF PEACEFUL VOTING, VIOLENCE HITS MANIPUR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000071 SIPDIS SIPDIS PACOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM IN SUBJECT: AFTER TWO ROUNDS OF PEACEFUL VOTING, VIOLENCE HITS MANIPUR ELECTIONS REF: KOLKATA 00028, KOLKATA 00059 ¶1. (U) Summary: On February 23, Manipur held the third and final phase of its Legislative Assembly elections for the remaining 12 seats in the 60-seat legislature. Unlike the first two phases, this final round of polling was marred by violence and intimidation due to ethnic rivalries in the polling districts. Though Congress is expected to maintain control of the assembly after the ballots are counted, the violence is another reminder of the instability plaguing this small Northeastern state. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The final phase of Manipur's State Assembly elections covered constituencies in Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel and Imphal East districts. The Congress Party contested 11 of the seats, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) 9, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) 6, Samajwadi Party (SJP) 5, Communist Party of India (CPI) 4, the Manipur People's Party (MPP),Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP),National People's Party (NPP) 3 each, Samata Party (SP) 2, People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) and Janata Dal United (JDU) one each. There were also 23 Independent party candidates. Election results are scheduled to be announced on February 27. ¶3. (U) Because of the number of ethnic groups living in the districts included in the third phase of polling, Chief Electoral Officer R.R. Rashmi termed the final polling day the "the toughest phase." The two rival National Socialist Council of Nagalim factions, Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and Khaplang (NSCN-K),share territorial influence in the Chandel and Tamenglong districts, along with some ethnic Kuki and Meitei groups struggling for control over smaller portions of these districts. Nagas control 11 seats in Manipur, of which 5 were being contested in this third phase. ¶4. (U) At least 10 abductions occurred during the gap between the second (February 14) and third phase. Nine civil society organization leaders in Chandel were abducted, reportedly by NSCN-IM, and are yet to be released. In Tamenglong, NSCN-K supporters attacked the NSCN-IM backed Independent candidate on February 20. Three candidates -- one Independent contesting in Tamenglong and two CPI candidates in Chandel - were forced to "retire" from the election by militant groups. ¶5. (U) The intimidation was not limited to the Naga factions. A BJP candidate in Churachandpur N. Haokip has been in hiding since February 16 after he and his family were harassed by thugs allegedly hired by the Congress Party. Minister for Information and Public Relations T.N. Haokip, also contesting in Churachandpur, was accused by his LJP opponent of using Kuki National Army cadres to intimidate voters and opposition workers. On February 21, two political workers of the NPP and the Congress were killed in Churachandpur by unknown assailants, most likely rival party "enforcers." The Indian Army was not spared either -- militants ambushed an Assam Rifles team in Chandel district, killing one and injuring another. ¶6. (U) The NSCN-K in Zeliangrong and Tamenglong banned all candidates and declared a poll boycott alleging that NSCN-IM was carrying out "dictatorial activities" in the districts. The NSCN-IM, for their part, imposed a curfew in the constituency on election day. When polling day arrived, a gunfight between NSCN-IM and NSCN-K militants took place at Makoinung polling station area of the district. No casualties were reported. In another incident in Tamenglong, unidentified armed militants entered the Tharon polling station and told voters to cast their votes in favor of a candidate. Voting in the polling station was discontinued thereafter. Unidentified militants also attacked the house of an Independent candidate in Imphal East. ¶7. (U) Capping the violence on February 24, sixteen Indian Reserve Battalion and police personnel were killed and several others wounded in an ambush by unidentified militants at Jouzangtek under Bishnupur police station. The security personnel were returning from election duty in Tamenglong district. The first two vehicles of the six vehicle convoy came under attack reportedly from prepared positions uphill from the road as they were nearing Jouzangtek village. The attackers used rocket launchers and automatic weapons, completely KOLKATA 00000071 002 OF 002 destroying the two vehicles. Following the ambush, all security personnel deployed on election duty have been asked not to move out from their posts till further instructions. ¶8. (U) Comment: The violence surrounding the final phase of polling was in contrast to the relatively peaceful previous phases earlier this month. With nearly 20 percent of the Assembly seats up for grabs in this phase, there was a potential opportunity for a coalition to form to counter Congress' influence. However not surprisingly, intra-ethnic infighting among the various Naga groups and local rivalries dashed any chance at political progress in one of India's most troubled states and demonstrated the difficulty of implementing democratic elections in a region wracked by persistent ethnic violence. JARDINE