![Sample our Social Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110822/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Social-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
The paper looks at how media engages with the issue of framing movements in the northeastern state of Manipur. The focus of the paper is on the demand for Inner Line Permit in Manipur that landed the state into conflict between the communities of the state. The passing of the three bills, as discussed in the paper, by the state government has snowballed into ethnic tensions and re-opened the hill–valley divide in this northeastern state. By using frame analysis, the paper intends to explicate the issue of media framing within the socio-political context of the state. The paper then engages with the process in which local media frames movements that are diametrically opposed to one another. The study further reveals that the local media in Manipur are greatly influenced by the local politics and remain integral to it.
Acknowledgments
I express my sincere gratitude to the two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and thoughtful suggestions. My heartfelt thanks to Prof. Virginius Xaxa for helping me through with the revision work. Thanks are also due to Jamminlian Vualnam, Samuel Haokip, and Nangmuangsang Lethil for helping me with the grammar and syntax.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is a colonial legacy under the Bengal Easter Frontier Regulation, 1873 that restricts the entry and exit of ‘non-natives’ in various parts of northeast India. It was introduce to protect colonial economic interest particularly the oil and tea plantations in Assam.
2. The term Mayang is used as a collective label to refer to migrants mostly from mainland India.
3. See JCILPS Memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on 8 August 2015. http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Inner_Line_Permit_ILP_Demand.Download_JCILPS_memorandum_submitted_to_CM_Manipur_on_August_8_2015.
4. I use Zo here to refer to the Kuki/Chin/Mizo/Zomi ethnic groups.
5. There are nine districts in Manipur and out of these, five are hill districts of which Churachandpur is one. The rest four are Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong, and Senapati.
6. Weiner, Sons of the Soil.
7. Baruah, “Immigration, Ethnic Conflict.”
8. Golcevski, von Engelhardt, and Boomgaarden, “Facing the Past.”
9. Peteet, “Words as Interventions”; Zeng, Zhou, and Li, “Framing Strategies at Different Stages of a Crisis”; Elmasry et al., “Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya Framing”; and Thomas, “The ‘Red Surge’.”
10. Entman, “Framing: Toward Clarification,” 52.
11. Gamson and Modigliani, “The Changing Culture of Affirmative Action,” 143.
12. Thomas, “The ‘Red Surge’,” 490.
13. Scheufele, “Framing as a Theory of Media Effects”; and Tankard, “The Empirical Approach to the Study.”
14. McCombs, Setting the Agenda.
15. Tankard, “The Empirical Approach to the Study.”
16. See note 10 above.
17. Kara and Atabey, “Too Close and Too Far”; Elmasry et al., “Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya Framing”; and Zeng, Zhou, and Li, “Framing Strategies at Different Stages of a Crisis.”
18. Elmasry et al., “Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya Framing.”
19. Hawkins, “Media Selectivity and the Other Side of the CNN Effect.”
20. Bora, “Examining Media Content,” 379.
21. Rao, “Glocalization of Indian Journalism,” 482.
22. Schoemaker and Stremlau, “Media and Conflict”; and Postill, “A Critical History of Internet Activism.”
23. Rao, “Glocalization of Indian Journalism.”
24. Udupa, “News Media and Contention over the ‘Local’.”
25. Neyazi, “Cultural Imperialism or Vernacular Modernity?” 914.
26. Udupa, “Aam Aadmi”; and Pal, Chandra and Vydiswaran, “Twitter and the Rebranding of Modi”
27. Sen, “Marginal on the Map.”
28. Arora, “weeping.sikkimblogspot.com.”
29. The other online portals that are available in Manipur are kangalonline, zogam.com, virthli.com, etc.
30. This can be accessed online at http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Inner_Line_Permit_ILP_Demand.html.
For specific newspaper headlines and other daily reports, see http://epao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=related_news.Demand_for_implementation_of_Inner_Line_Permit_ILP_System_News_Timeline.html. The news timeline extending from June 2012 to 16 February 2016 are available here.
31. Brooten, “Blind Spots in Human Rights Coverage,” 135.
32. See note 18 above.
33. Muschert, “Frame-Changing in the Media Coverage of a School Shooting.”
34. Lawlor, “Local and National Accounts of Immigration,” 921.
35. See note 18 above.
36. Shoemaker and Stremlau, “Media and Conflict,” 188.
37. The others states are Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh.
38. Karlsson, Unruly Hills; and Suan, “Hills–Valley Divide as a Site of Conflict.”
39. For details, see Joykumar Singh, Religious Revitalisation Movements.
40. Shimray, “Ethnicity and Socio-Political Assertion,” 3675.
41. Chandhoke, “A State of One’s Own.”
42. Suan, “Hills–Valley Divide as a Site of Conflict.”
43. Gal means war. Zou is one of the recognized tribes of Manipur which formerly is put under Old Kuki.
44. Zou, “The Pasts of a Fringe Community.”
45. McDuie-Ra, “Ethnicity and Place in ‘Disturbed City’.”
46. Nag, Contesting Marginality; and Chandhoke, “A State of One’s Own.”
47. Suan, “State versus People.”
48. Ngaihte, “Manipur and its Internal Demand for Autonomy.”
49. Shimray, Naga Population and Integration Movement; and Suan, “Hills–Valley Divide as a Site of Conflict.”
50. Bhaumik, “Insurgencies in India’s Northeast.”
51. Stremlau, Fantini, and Osman, “The Political Economy of the Media.”
52. KSO decries State’s media houses. Accessed December 2, 2015 http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14.230815.aug15.
53. See note 39 above.
54. Shimray, “Linguistic Matrix in Manipur.”
55. See note 51 above.
56. Thousands rally for common future of Manipur. (Sangai Express, February 7, 2016). Accessed February 9, 2016. http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/thousands-rally-common-future-manipur/.
57. Federation of Regional Indigenous Societies (FRIENDS) submits ultimatum on ILP. Available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=31.210612.jun12.
58. JCILPS launches ‘non-cooperation movement’ against non-locals. Accessed June 2, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=22.030315.mar15.
59. JCILPS calls bandh; rejects MRVT&MW Bill. Accessed June 2, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=18.160315.mar15.
60. JCILPS shares thought on Bill. Accessed June 2, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=6.130315.mar15.
61. See Student dies at shell injury; ILP stir intensifies, Curfew Clamped in Imphal East, Imphal West Districtds. Accessed August 8, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=20.090715.jul15. See also ‘Thousands pay homage to Robinhood’. Accessed August 8, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=22.090815.aug15. Large scale protest hits Imphal Valley. Accessed August 8, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=24.100715.jul15.
62. Last rites only after a new bill is passed: JAC Body yet to be claimed. Accessed August 10, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=2.100715.jul15.
63. Govt. okay to proposals to make changes in MRVTMW Bill; CM opens amendment, fresh Bill options. Accessed September 2, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=1.110715.jul15.
64. The other four hill districts are Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel.
65. Hausing, “Manipur Impasse.”
66. Roluahpuia, “Majoritarianism in Manipur.”
67. For an analysis on this issue, see Pradip Phanjoubam ‘Violence in Manipur has much to do with Shrinking Space and Economic Opportunities’. http://thewire.in/2015/09/01/violence-in-manipur-has-much-to-do-with-shrinking-space-and-economic-opportunities-9693/.
68. See note 66 above.
69. This JAC was formed in response to the passing of the three bills and to organize the tribal movement.
70. See Verification drive held. http://e-pao.net/GP/asp?src=19.170215.feb15; Verification drive concludes, available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=33.230215.feb15JCILPS launches ‘non-cooperation movement’ against non-locals, http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=22.030315.mar15 Accessed November 3, 2015.
71. JCILPSlaunches ‘non-cooperation movement’ against non-locals. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=22.030315.mar15; Issuance of Aadhar card to outsiders: IPAK rings out caution for all http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=4.030215.feb15; Verification drive concludes, http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=17.230215.feb15; JCILPS rallies http://e-pao.neet/GP.asp?src=7.270615.jun15 Accessed November 5, 2015.
72. See JCILPS shares thought on Bill. Accessed November 5, 2015 http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=6.130315.mar15.
73. See Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills charter of demands submitted to the Chief Minister of Manipur on 9 November 2015.
74. Jiri Bengalis against ILPS. Accessed November 5, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=24.260815.aug15.
75. Chakravarty (2015). Why some indigenous people in Manipur are irked by new laws that aim to protect them. Available online at http://scroll.in/article/753126/why-some-indigenous-people-in-manipur-are-irked-by-new-laws-that-aim-to-protect-them.
76. See note 42 above.
77. Manipur’s bane: Inter-community contradictions. Accessed November 7, 2015. http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.editorial.editorial_2015.Manipur_bane_Inter-community_contradictions_TSE_20150902.
78. For a discussion on this see Piang, “Moving Backwards.” http://www.epw.in/journal/2014/15/reports-states-web-exclusives/moving-backwards.html.
79. A Joint Action Committee (JAC) against anti-tribal bills was formed by the tribals which is leading the tribal protest in the state.
80. JD(U), AAP advise Govt., Accessed June 10, 2015 http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=3.020315.mar15;MPP demands ILPS. Accessed June 10, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=36.250315.mar15.
81. MPP urges. Accessed June 11, 2015.http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Snipp18.180315.mar15.
82. Biren talks tough against cops’ conduct. Accessed September 8, 2015. http://e pao.net/GP.asp?src=7.100715.jul15.
83. House should take responsibility: Joy, Available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=5.100715.jul15, AllMLAs responsible for death of Robinhood: JD (U), Available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=31.110715.jul15.
84. Gaikhangam seeks clear definition of ‘detrimental points’ in Govt. Bills, Accessible November 5, 2015. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=19.040915.sep15.
85. 3 Bills do not harm any interest of hill communities: Ng Bijoy, available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=17.121115.nov15.
86. See note 24 above.
87. Not the time to remain silent spectators: Time for MPP to raise the pitch http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.editorial.editorial_2015.Not_the_time_to_remain_silent_spectators_Time_for_MPP_to_raise_the_pitch_TSE_20150319.
88. For instance see, Why Lamka will not bury its dead. Business Standards. http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/why-lamka-will-not-bury-its-dead-116043000838_1.html.
89. Outlining the Inner Line, http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.editorial.editorial_2015.Outlining_the_Inner_Line_HL_20150209; ILPS: Lack of official will, available online at http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.editorial.editorial_2015.ILPS_Lack_of_official_will_HL_20150713. Accessed November 7, 2015.
90. Hobson’s choice for Ibobi, http://epao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.editorial.editorial_2015.Hobson_choice_for_Ibobi_HL_20150710.
91. JCIPS submits memo to CM; makes convincing presentation on demand, available online at http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=21.090815.aug15.
92. Hawkins, “Media Selectivity and the Other Side of the CNN Effect,” 62.
93. All three Bills passed without any debate, Violent reactions erupt in CCpur, Sardar Hills, CrPC 144 invoked Residences of MLAs attached, three killed in CCpur, bandh in hill areas total. Accessed November 2, 2015.
94. See note 66 above.
95. Shimray, Naga Population and Integration Movement.
96. Zeng Zhou, and Li, “Framing strategies at different stages of a crisis.”
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Roluahpuia
Roluahpuia is a doctoral student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), North East Regional Campus (NERC), Guwahati, Assam. His area of research is on ethnicity and nationalism. For his Ph.D., he specifically looks at Mizo National Front (MNF) movement in North East India.
Author’s postal address: Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), North East Regional Campus (NERC), 14-A Bhuban Road, Uzan Bazar, Guwahati, Assam 781001, India.