By BB Sharma
Where is Manipur heading to ? This question is being asked from several quarters for quite some time. One may agree or disagree but another asserts -- "to a failed state!" Yet others still claim "all is not lost, as it is now reversing".
Threats and intimidations for ransom have increased. Even retired Government employees are not spared. A retired Medical Superintendent of a Government District Hospital was kidnapped and killed ostensibly for ransom evoking Statewide general strike on October 24, 2009. Also on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest women's festival of Manipur (October 20, 2009), two women were raped and murdered. In retaliation, one alleged rapist was killed by an irate mob, while the other alleged rapist's house was set on fire.
All educational institutions in Manipur valley, including the Manipur University, remain paralysed for nearly three months following a 'class-boycott' call by All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students Federation (MSF) and the Kangleipak Students Association (KSA) demanding resignation of the Chief Minister, Mr Okram Ibobi Singh for his alleged inaction on the 'July 23' Khwairamband Bazar, (Imphal) shootout. The student bodies allege that a former cadre of the banned outfit Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) and a young pregnant woman were killed in a 'fake encounter' in broad daylight. The State Government has set up a judicial commission headed by a retired Judge of the Gauhati High Court to inquire into the fake encounter in the wake of massive agitation spearheaded by the Apunba Lup, a conglomeration of several civil society organisations. However, only a few affidavits have so far been filed from the public.
The Imphal Free Press in its editorial on 23 October 2009 asks, "Who is in power and whose hands the law rest in...?" Blaming the Government for the situation the editorial comments, “inaction may ensure no risk situation in the short run, but this is no peace. It is also no guarantee for security in the long run either. Asked ordinary man or woman in the street, if they want the current state of governmental inaction to continue and the government will have the answer in a flash." The prevailing situation is accumulation of unresolved problems left over by earlier Governments in the post-Statehood period, now boomerang on the present Government.
Any issue in the State at this stage assumes multi-pronged dimensions due to the tense conflict situation and the Secular Progressive Front Government, headed by Mr Ibobi Singh of Congress, is facing multiple pressure points. Until and unless a lasting solution to the vexed insurgency problem in the State is worked out, restoration of peace and normalcy looks difficult.
Of late, the security forces have made tremendous strides to contain militancy in the state. Several operations were successfully conducted. As a result a large number of militant camps were destroyed and arms were recovered. The GOC, 3 Corps, Lt. General NK Singh, in his recent interview with the media clarified that operations were successful, but there are many camps across the international border of Manipur. He said there are three types of camps—permanent camps, training camps and transit camps, which is a concern for the security forces. Terming the July 23-Khwairamband Bazar incident as a stumbling block to the process of restoring peace and normalcy in the State, Lt General NK Singh said efforts are being made to reach out to the people and hoped that the “pre-July 23 days" will return soon.
In a dramatic turn of event 13 militants belonging to various underground outfits surrendered to the Army. GOC, 57 Mountain Division, Major General Shakti Gurung received the militants at a function at Churachandpur held on 26 October 2009. The militants who laid down arms belong to five Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL Military Defense Force), four United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), two Dima Halam Dauga (James) and one each from United People's Party of Kanglei Pak (UPPK) and Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). The surrendered arms include two AK series rifles, one M 16 Rifle, seven pistols, one rocket launcher, and one lath-ode gun. Claiming it as the outcome of their intense pressure on militants, the Army considers each as a big achievement.
However, the considered view is that the level of violence in the State can not be brought down unless smuggling of small arms into the State is fully checked. It is a well-known fact that arms are sold in open markets in the eastern border of the country. Small gun cost less than ten thousand rupees in these open markets and it easily finds its way to Imphal wreaking havoc to the already troubled State.
The Centre has now directed the Assam Rifles troops to move closer to the Indo-Myanmar border in order to curb cross-border movement of arms, drugs and militants. Many northeast insurgent groups still maintain their camps and training centres across the 1631-km-long Indo-Myanmar border that runs from Arunachal Pradesh in the north to Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram in the south. Smuggling of arms and ammunition across the border is rampant. Besides, cross-border smuggling of narcotics is always a concern to the security forces since such substances always find markets in metros and other major cities of the country.
Keeping this in view, the Government of India has already decided to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. The survey work is completed in the 10 km stretch along Moreh, the border town of Manipur—the most infiltration-prone portion of the Indo-Myanmar border.
These are the security measures so far undertaken but the real solution lies in a dialogue with various insurgent groups. Appeal for peace talk so far remains only rhetoric. It may be recalled that in January 2004, the then Prime Minister Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced that the only pre-condition for negotiation in Jammu & Kashmir was 'humanism'. Taking a cue from the elderly statesman, humanism need be the basic principle for preparing a road-map for a dialogue process in the strife-torn Manipur
This article was published on The Sangai Express edition 5th Nov 2009.