The defiant Muivah’s, the chief of a banned outfit NSCN (IM), unwillingness to back off his proposed visit to his birthplace Somdal in Ukhrul district, Manipur, and Manipur Government’s firm resistance to let the rebel leader fulfill his mission have brought a complete economic turmoil in Manipur, opening once again a debate on how much the Government of India (GOI) cares the Northeast states. The news of rebel leader homecoming after 49 years had made headlines and spread like a wildfire, setting Manipur on fire along with it. But what is shocking to me if why it does not attract the attention of the Center to act to ebb the ongoing situation.
Both NH 39 and NH 53, the lifelines of Manipur, have been blocked by Naga Students’ union for more than 2 months, pushing the state into severe economic and food crisis. This students' union wants greater autonomy for the hill districts and their leader Muivah be allowed to visit his birthplace. The economic blockade that was originally meant to press the state government for greater autonomy for the hill districts was intensified when Chief Minister Ibobi Singh refused NSCN chief to enter the state. And, it turned into indefinite blockade following May 6 mayhem in Mao gate in which two Naga students were killed in police firing while trying to control the protesting crowd who gathered to welcome Muivah. Manipur is facing acute shortage of foods and life-saving drugs. For now, foods, fuel, and medicines are airlifted from Guwahati to Imphal, yet it can’t meet the requirements. The price of petrol rose to Rs 150 per liter while LPG cylinder was being sold for Rs 1,500. Also, the price of rice and local produce has skyrocketed. Worst of all, most of the hospitals are forced to stop routine surgeries due to the lack of oxygen and life-saving drugs.
Muivah has said the refusal of his visit came as a big surprise to him since his homecoming is meant for peace, love, meeting friends and relatives, and not to disturb anyone. However, if we look deeper, the truth is otherwise; he plans to hold a series of meetings during his stay in Ukhrul. His visit to his birthplace is not exactly a homecoming; it is political move to break the territorial integrity of Manipur. There is no problem for Muivah to visit his birthplace. Everyone has got the right to visit his birthplace, and Muivah is not an exception. However, he can’t do so as a leader of a banned outfit and that too with hidden agenda. The people of Manipur view NSCN (IM)-related issues seriously and are strongly against the outfit’s ambitious “Greater Nagalim” concept of forming unified Naga homeland by merging Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Myanmar in the territory of Nagaland. We do not have any problem in the peace talk between NSCN (IM) and the government of India. However, any plan to disturb the territorial integrity of the state will result into complete chaos and upheavals. No one wants to repeat the June 18, 2001, uprising in which many innocent lives were sacrificed and state assembly house brought down to cinder—its root cause “the extension of ceasefire between GOI and NSCN (IM) without territorial limits”. Not only this, Muivah had orchestrated the 1992 communal riots between Nagas and Kukis in Manipur, in which more than 900 Kukis were killed and above 1 lakh rendered homeless. I was very young then, but I can’t forget the tears-rolling picture of those helpless brothers, sisters, and mothers who went door to door begging for food and clothes with those heartbreaking stories. Muivah should be dragged to court for genocide.
The government of Manipur has every right to stop Muivah from entering the state. One, he is the leader of a banned revolutionary outfit. Two, the ceasefire between the Center and the NSCN (IM), which entered in August 1997, does not extend to Manipur. And, it is the duty of the Center to lift the highway blockade and normalize the situation arising out of it. In a snub against state government, the defiant leader has already arrived the state frontier and stationed in a village that is just few kilometers from Mao gate. Some 50 plus vehicles, mostly members of Naga NGOs, NSCN (IM) soldiers, and Nagaland police, escorted the 75-year-old rebel leader in his attempt to enter Manipur.
The ongoing situation and the crisis faced by the people of Manipur are all because of the step-motherly treatment meted out to Manipur by the Center. How can the Center give green signal to Muivah to enter Manipur without having a consultation with the government of Manipur? Why can’t the Center lift the highway blockade imposed for more than 2 months by some students union when the people in the other state are dying and starving because of the blockade of their lifeline? Can’t the Center provide security forces to ensure that the goods-laden trucks reach Manipur safely, or can’t they use paramilitary or state force to crush a tiny warring students union? Because of this negligence and step motherly treatment, today Manipur is on the verge of collapse. It is a lawless state today where human rights are found only in the political science book. Today, there are more than 40 insurgent groups in Manipur. Except for the few leaders of these groups, there is no any ideological commitment among the militants. They are just extortion groups running extortion racket to support both their families and activities. In Manipur, every government employee is paying to these insurgent groups for survival. And the mode of payment is very systematic; the contribution is deducted just like income tax deduction. No one is spared, including Chief Minister and DGP. Only the governor and the chief secretariat are exempted from this. The insurgents reach their hand everywhere¾politics, administration, recruitment, and so on. They are the real watchdog of the state. It may sound exaggerated but it is true¾a schoolteacher who wants to take one-month medical leave writes application to the militant, not to the school principal. Imagine how awkward it sounds. Most students unions are the overt group of the militants. There is a nexus between militants and ministers. Unlike NSCN(IM), table discussion is not possible with these militants because they don’t have any constitution for sovereign Manipur; they know only how to threaten people and pull trigger. The militants have equal share in any government contracts and recruitments. Monies come from extortion are siphoned to their leaders who stay in foreign countries enjoying foreign locales and luxuries; they are least bothered by what is happening at home. Despite having above 60 percent educated people, unemployment poses an easy target to desperate and employed youths for these insurgent groups. The Indian government should not delay anymore to revive its erstwhile desperate efforts of bringing Manipur into mainstream India¾this time in building economy and maintaining peace before it collapses. The Center should start by removing the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 first¾the mother of all ills, lawlessness, and problems in Manipur¾the very Act that killed many innocent people, the very Act that deprives human rights, and the very Act that deprives the family of the deceased to seek justice in the court for the dear departed.
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