AFSPA & New State Forces

Raju Athokpam *

After the "Candle Light Vigil" for Irom Sharmila on 25th June, 2011 (Read a report here), I was on my way home, sitting in a DTC bus. The CLV was a symbolic event. It was organized totally by non-Manipuris. The idea of the event was to give solidarity only. The speeches contain many thought provoking ideas. For instance, one speaker said, "People in Manipur are always special, only special rules are applied there".

Another said, "AFSPA undermines democracy, it is an issue for the whole India. Sharmila is fighting for the whole India". Another blames the ignorant crowd, "There is India beyond Madhya Pradesh in south and West Bengal in east". "Before AFSPA, there were two/three insurgency groups, after AFSPA there are thirty/forty insurgency groups". The speeches go on.

The hues and cries of Manipuris has remain unheard for the past several years. It ostensibly becomes a local problem when only the Manipuris put forward the Irom Sharmila's demand. Now, it becomes a national demand.

In all these years , the blames goes mainly to Government of India. We must not forget that the repeal of the Act is a two-way process. What is the deal in this two-way process? It is the deal between GoI and Government of Manipur. If GoM gives just one assurance that it can contain the "regional aspiration" of the state, AFSPA automatically dies.

Regarding AFSPA 1958, there should be more responsibility to GoM than to GoI. The cause of the imposition of the draconian Act goes to the deficit in "confidence building measure" between two government. GoI still lacks confidence to GoM. The Act is not repeal because of the lack of the "political will" of the state government to overcome this confidence.

Actually I am wrong. The state government is working on it but the "political will" is actually being distorted. In order to be able to give systematic assurance to GoI that GoM can solve insurgency problem, it started increasing its military might, the recruitments of Manipur Polices, Indian Reserve Battalions, etc.

AFSPA becomes a boon to Manipur Inc, as for each recruitment in Sub Inspector level, an entry bribe of 20 to 30 lakh is imposed. This new "development" is crushing the "progress" of the state. Firstly, if entry is done through nepotism and bribe, the quality of the personnel is below the expectation level, a common sense says it.

Secondly, the immaturity forces become an impediment to the civilians. They defy police norms and act at their own will. They dictate a public display of terror. Thirdly, will they be able to get promotion? Because of the lack of competency, when they do not get promoted, what will happen to their motivation?

Without motivation, what are the unintended ill-effects that a force can render to the society? Fourthly, how can 20/30 lakhs that he have borrowed in high interest rate be repay with just his salary? What anti-social transaction does he will start to commit to recover the debt? Lastly, most surprisingly why are surrendered insurgents being recruited in state forces? The distorted political will is in a complete mess.

Can GoM solve the insurgency problem only militarily? I doubt it. Worse, what if the state forces becomes a new insurgency group? It is not a surprising idea, we have seen Mujahideens and Talibans. Without a political solution, a slime of insurgency will remain.

There is one historic "progress" recently. It was "23rd July 2009, Fake Encounter" case that actually relieved the civilians to some extent. When such similar barbaric incident used to happened surreptitiously, then openly even in broad daylight, a saturation has reached.

The source of fake encounter expose is anonymous. After the breakthrough journalism, people feel a little more secure when travelling at late hours or with some money in hand. This can be codify as a "lesson learnt".

On similar approach, if one reveals the corruption case in the state forces recruitment, the future recruitment will have much responsible police officers and it will also help the corruption to wither away. With mature police and certain reforms in the Police Act, the prevailing egos between the self-proclaim government actors and the state actors, mainly the forces fraternity, will subside.

When egos subside, reason can be a medium in dialogue. The talks will bear fruit. This utopian state will make AFSPA redundant.

I am not supporting the centralized tendency of the GoI but when everybody is blaming the Center, I wanted to blame the State instead. This article is a voice towards the state government for the repeal of AFSPA. We have brave history, we have the highest dreams, we love peace, please protect us!