A Critique of the Manipur ILP Guidelines 2019
- in Meiteilon -

Dr. Malem Ningthouja *

ILP counters opened at Jiribam on January 02 2020 :: Pix - TSE

Introduction

Manipur Government na tang 31 December, 2019 da Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2019 puthokle. Guidelines purakpa asi, Chief Minister N. Biren na 2020 gi chahi houdringeifaobagi manungda Manipur da Inner Line Permit System chatnahan-gani haina laothokhiba wafam adu thabakta onthokpani.

Chief Minister na wafam asi fongna laothokpa ngamlibasi, 11 December, 2019 da Ministry of Home Affairs na cherol thokkhiba, The Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 aduna Manipur da Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 chat-nahankhiba adugi maheini.

Masida Manipur gi meeyoi kayana haraonakhi. Makhoina haraonakhibagi maramdi 12th December, 2019 da President of India na The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 ayaba pibikhi.

Act asigi provision da Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 chatnaba mfamsingdadi CAA chatnararoi haikhi. Government of India na lourakliba CCA dagi exempt touba firep asi Manipur amasung Northeast ki mafam kayada CAA 2019 gi mayokta achouba eehou changsinkhiba adugi maramdagini.

CCA gi mayokta eehou kanna changsinkhibagi maramdi CCA na maram oiduna Manipur amasung Northeast ki mafamsingda Government of India na akhannana sougatpa masing yamlaba khutpusinggi demographic invasion chatthahan-gadoure haibagi akiba leibadagini. Manipur da Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation extend touduna Manipur bu CCA dagi exempt tourakpada meeyoi kayana haraoba haibasi hounasani

Manipur gi oinadi yelhoumee kanjabagi eehou lishang sitna leirak-ee. Eehou asigi demand di Manipur da Inner Line Permit system natraga masiga mannaba law ama chat-nahallu haiba asini.

Meeyamgi eehoubu Government of India na eekai khumnare haibadagi CCA 2019 na sok-halloidaba mafamsing adu fongdokkhibani. Manipur da Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 chat-nahankhibani. Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2019 puthokkhibani.

Adumakpu puthokliba Guidelines asi Manipur gi yelhoumeesing kanbigadouribara haibasi wahang ama oiri. Maramdi, yelhoumee kanjabagi eehouna demand thoukhibasi hiram kharadani. Hiramsing adudi:
(1) Meetopna masing hallengdana pangchangda changsillakpa asidagi ngakthoknaba chatna-pathap ama thamba,
(2) Meetopna lam gi mapu oihandaba,
(3) Meetopna building amasung atei immovable infrastructure singgi mapu oihandaba,
(3) Meetopta Manipur gi permanent citizenship pihandaba amasung voting rights fanghandaba,
(4) meetop masak khngdoknaba base year ama thamba aduga base year adugi matungda changsillakkhiba meetopsing takthokkhiba, asinachingbasing asini.

Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines 2019 asi khara kupna neinaduna yengbada yelhoumee kanbagi demand asidagi onna teinaba wafam kaya yaore. Wafamsing asi makhada thamjari.

(1) Definition Exemption: Manipur gi yelhoumee kan-ge hairabadi, yelhoumee kanano haiba asi masak takpa definition mathou tai. Manipur gi permanent resident kanano haiba asisu masak takpa definition mathou tai. Yelhoumee amasung permanent resident masak takpa haibasida konna changsillakpa meetopsing masak khngnanaba base year ama leigadabani.

Guidelines asina Manipur gi indigenous people (yelhoumee) amasung permanent residents singbu ILP dagi exemption tourabasy indigenous people amasung permanent residents sing kanano haiba sugaina takte. Permanent resident haibasi government na issue touba certificate ama pairaga hektamak oiba yabagi wafamla? Yelhoumee natraga permanent resident masak khngdokpagi base year ama leifam thokpani.

Base year asi meeyamgi apamba 1951 na oigadouribara, 1971 na oigadouribara natraga karamba chahi na oigadouribano? Definition pidaba amasung definition ga sagonnagadaba base year ama yaodaba asina Guidelines asida yumfam oiraga ILP card paihan-gadaba meeoi asi kanona haiba chamamnahalli. ILP card pairaga Manipur da changlakpa meeoi amasu permanent card ama tanthoklagadi makha tana ILP card paidrabasu leihanba yabagi fivam ama oihalli.

(2) Ownership: Yelhoumee kanba haiba asida lam, buildings, immovable properties, natural resources, market asinachingba asi yelhoumeesingna mapu oijaba haibasi tangai fade. Potlamsing asi meetopna mapu oiba yaroi haiba wafam Guidelines asida yaode. 1873 gi principle Act ta lam gi wafam asi pallabasu, Guidelines asida wafamsing asi pandabasi thouoina touba malli amasing meetop singda mapu oihanbagi ayaba pithokpagumna touee.

Special Category Permit paiba—inak khunba, politically influence touba ngamba, khutkan panggalba—eikhoigi economy da lannaigi interest leiba meeoisingna Manipur suppai paisinhankhiba yabagi khudong chaba lei. Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 gi principle asi ngakna chatpa oina Manipur yelhoumee gi interest yenglaga clause ama hapchin-gadabani.

Asumna hapchinba yai, “It shall not be lawful for any non-indigenous person or companies or firms or enterprises or banks or finance institutions owned by outsiders, to acquire any interest in land, buildings or immovable properties, the product of land beyond, and voting rights within the “inner line” of Manipur without the sanction of the Government of Manipur, who in turn can sanction such a permission only after fulfilling due process of law which shall be preceded by the free prior informed consent of the indigenous people.”

(3) Voting rights: Meetopsingna lam, buildings, immovable properties, natural resources, amasung market asinachingbagi mapu oiba yaroi haiba athingba ama thamlabasu; meetopna na leibakki political firep amasung administration da khut thingjinba ngamlabadi makhoigi pressuredagi ngakthokpa wai. Meetopna political domination tourakpadagi ngakthokke hairabadi makhoida voting rights fanghandanaba athingba thamgadabani.

Meetopsingda voting rights pikhrabadi, ahanba phase ta meetopsing asi vote bank oina local electoral politics ta sijinnarakkani. Masina maram oiraga meetopsinggi political rights amasung power henna mara chetsin-gani. Anisuba phase ta meetopna meekok masing ka henna hen-gatlaklaba matungda, maduga makhoigi political amasung economic power ga totsinnaraga ahenba thakta monopoly tourakpa ngammi.

Amaromda, voting rights sijinnaduna political amasung administration gi policy da henna khumang chaosillaktuna ILP system asigi kannafam leihallakloi. Ngasi Manipur gi mafam kayada meetopsingna khunda leitasinduna electoral politics ta yaosinduna leibakki administration da khut thingjinba ngamliba asi voting rights fangkhibadagini.

Masi kanana touhanbano haiba asi yelhoumee gi tunggi yaifanabagi wakhal mityeng sanna ooba ngamdaba masagi kannaba khaktamak yengba meeoi kharagi thourangni haiba asi eikhoina khngfam thokpani. Masigi asoiba asi hanjin hanjinna touroidabani.

(4) Exemption Illegal immigrants: ILP Guidelines clause 16 matung inna “these regulations and Guidelines shall not apply to foreigners who shall be regulated and governed by… the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950 and subsequent amendments.” Wafam asi taraina louba yaroidaba maram lei.

Maramdi, Ministry of Home Affairs ki notifications, dated 7th September, 2015, amasung 18th July 2016, gi matung inna, Afghanistan, Bangladesh amasung Pakistan dagi 31st December, 2014, dagi laininggi ot neibaba natragada ot neigani haina kijabadagi India da changlakpani haiba Hindu, Sikh, Buddhists, Jains, Parisis, amasung Christian laining chatpasingdi matik chaba che chang yaodrabasu adumak changhanbagi ayaba piri.

Meetop amana hektamak mathakki claim asida yumfam oiraga Manipur da changlakpada makhoigi claim adu chummi lanli haibagi verify toubasu wagadouri. Verified tourabasing adu ILP card paidrabasu changlakpa yagadouri. Makhoisina khunda leitaduna leisinkhraga konnadi yelhoumeesinggi economy, politics, culture, amasung demography da khudongthiba thok-han-gadouri.

(5) Exemption Non-Manipuri: ILP Guidelines Clause 8 ta “category of persons exempted from Inner Line Permit” haina list ama thamli. Matang asida hangba yaba wahang ama thokli. Manipur gi unique history, identity amasung sentiment asibu eekai khumnaba ootpiba oina hairiba meeoising asina ILP card tanthokpiraga natragana mari leinaba authority na makhoida ILP card paihanbiraga Manipur da changlakpada kari karamba potlum oibage?

Government of Manipur, Home Department, No. 1 /9 (2)/ 2019-H (ILP), dated 13th December, 2019, matung inna BJP General Secretary Mr. Ram Madhav na Manipur da changbagi ILP ama issue toukhi. Masigumba good gesture asi Manipur gi Governor dagi chingna makha taba officials amsung meetopsingna Manipur da changlakpa matamda ootpibada kayam kaibage? Masi Manipur government amasung India government na sougatpham thok-pani.

Clause 8 asida definition gi mayek sengdaba wafam kharasu yaori. Sub-clause (i) to (vi) faobada exempt touriba “family members” haibasi mayek sengba definition pigadabani. Meeoi chollup ama “family members” ni haina changlaklabadi kamdouba? Sub-clause (iii) da palliba “officers” haiba wafam asisu definition pigadabani.

Pay grade ta yumfam oidouribara natraga office post designation da yumfam oidoira, definition pifam thok-ee. Sub-clause (vii) da eeriba “all executive members of the recognized National and State Political Parties” asi maram chade. Masi louthokkadabani. BJP gi General Secretary na ILP Card pairaga Manipur changlakpa adu ateidi karigi touroidouribano?.

Sub-clause (viii) ta eeriba “educational institutions” haiba asi Board of Secondary Education Manipur, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, Manipur University, amasung atei Manipur da campus leiba university singda affiliate touba institution oigadabani. Natrabadi accountability leiroi, meetop pusinba yanabagidamak mamingtagi oiba ‘educational institute’ lingkhatnarakkani.

Maheiroi ni haiduna Special Category Permit ki validity dagi henna sangba Identity Card issue tourakpagi wafamsu leirakkani. Maramdi lairik tamba (student oiba) haiba asi age bar leite. Aduna “educational institution” haiba asisu definition mayek sengba mathou tai.

(6) Authority: Kanana ILP card issue tougani amasung government ki kari discretionary power lei haiba wafamsing asi Guidelines asida yaori. Masidasu yetnaningai oiba fam khara yaori. Ahanbada, Clause 5 (ii) da yaoriba “any other agency authorized by State Government” hairiba asi definition ningthina pigadabani. Masi mayek senghoudragadi Government paiba meeoisingna makhoi gi lannai interest yenglaga ILP card issue toubagi power asi private firm or company or makhoina semba khutpu amada privatize touba or outsource tourakpa yabagi khudongchaba lei.

Anisubada, Clause 9 (iv) da Special Category ILP asi “any other person as decided by the State Government” hairiba asina Special Category Permit asi pining piningba meeda halengdana pangpida pithokpa yabagi, manipulation toubagi khudongchaba ama leihalli. Meetop khudingmakta paktaknana Special Category Permit pithokpa yabagi khudongchaba su leihalli.

Masi gi sub-clause asi hapke hairabasu asumna rewrite touba ama mathou tai, “Any other person as decided by the State Government on the basis of cabinet decision based on prior open information and invitation of opinions and consents of the people.”

Ahumsubada, Clause 22 asida eeriba wafam asi yamna natei chade. Asumna eeri, “The State Government has inherent power to relax any of the above guidelines at its discretion.” Masigi clause asina ILP Guideline asi wahanthok leihandare. Masi kakthatkadabani. Natragana rewrite tougadabani.

Rewrite asumna touba yai, “Nothing in this Guideline can be relaxed until and unless a new Regulation drafted after obtaining the free prior informed consent of the indigenous people of Manipur have suppressed it under the due process of law.”

(7) Penalty: Penalty gi matangda Clause 20 da eebiri. Masida technical lapse su leiri aduga mapung fadaba kharasu leiri. Ahanbada, ILP card paidabagi penalty fangloidabasi permanent resident khakta palli. Masida Indigenous people amasung ILP exempted kangbusu pande. Masi semdokkadabani.

Anisubada, ILP card paidaba meetopsing da penalty pibasi “liable for prosecution as provided under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873” haina eebiri. Masidi mapung fadaba penalty amani. Maramdi, BEFR, 1873 da eeribasi ILP card yaodana changlabadi, natragana restriction violate tourabadi fine thiba amasung jail da thambagi cheirakki wafam khaktanii.

ILP card yaodana changlakpa meeoi adu deport toukhibagi natraga makhoina permission yaodana leisillamba lam, building, property, asinachingbadu government na matpagi wafam yaode. Manipur gi Guidelines ta fine, imprisonment, amasung property forfeit toubagi wafamsi mayek sengna thamgadabani. Ahumsubada, ILP card paidana changlakpa meetoppu mayumda thamlamba, rent ta thamlamba yumbu adubusu penalty pigadabani.

Masisu hapchin-gadabani. Meetopta lam, building, immovable infrastructure yollamba meeoising adusu penalty pigadabani. Maral leiraba meetopsing adu matam kayam kuina changhallakpa thinggadbano haiba asisu mayek senggadabani. Awatpa sing asi Guideline asida hapchin-gadabani.

(8) Sponsors: Sponsorship ki matanda sugaina fongdokfam thokpa wafam khara leiri. Wafam asi Clauses 9, 10, amasung 12, amasung Application Forms A, B, amasing D ga mari leinei. Ahanbada, sponsor gi definition ama Guidelines asida yaode. Sponsor haiba term ama Clause 10 amasung Application forms 9, 10, amasung 12 ta yaoriba asi mayek sengba definition mathou tai.

Anisubada, Clauses 9 amasung 12 asida sponsor haiba terms directly sijinnade, adubu mari leinaba Application Forms A amasung D da sponsors ki ming amasung signature hapkadabani hairi. Asigumba inconsistency asi semdokkadabani. Ahumsubada, Clause 10 (b) da Regular Inner Line Permit ki wafamda asumna eebiri, “the application shall be sponsored by any permanent resident of the State of Manipur.”

Karigidamak yelhoumeesing amasung institutions (educational, sports, and cultural, etc.) singbu regular visitor (teachers, professionals, fellows, emeritus, mari mata, asinachingba) sponsor toubagi khudongchaba fanghandribano haibasi angakpa amani.

Government ki kok asida commercial bourgeoisie, bureaucrats, politicians, extractive firms, project dealers, military and paramilitary personnel, and makhoigi families, relatives, amasung friends asikhaktamak ooraba malle.

Marisubada, Application Forms A amasung D da sponsor amagi authenticity amasung mathou taba information lounanabagi space natraga provision yaode. Sponsor amagi maming (or department name in case of form D) amasung signature khaktamak eehan-gadabani haiba wafam asidi fagi malli.

Masina sponsor gi mingda duplication or namthak or lanna sijinnabagi amasung verification dagi nanthok-hannabagi maram oihalli. Masina transparency amasung accountability leihalloidouri. Masigi asoiba asi semdokkadabani.

(9) Contraventions: Ahanbada, principle gi wafam yengbada—mathakta neinariba wafamsing asi pusillakpada, Manipur government na chatnahalliba ILP Guidelines 2019 asi peace and good governance ki wahanthokka tayonnei. Maramdi peace haiba asi yelhoumeesingbu meetop ki safudagi ningthina ngak senbiduna chaokhatpa tangdu leitaba khunnai ama oihallakpa, amasung masi fangnaba afaba leingak (good governance) na hotnaba matamda oigani.

Yelhoumee singgi sinmit (economy), leingak (polity), khunnai (society), nat-chatnabi (culture and tradition), meekok (population), amasung saktam (identity) asi kayasi meetopki suppai (domination or monopoly) dagi ningthina ngakthoklaba matamda oigani. Masigidamaktani meeyamna ILP chat-nahallu haibagi eehou houkhibasi.

Mamingtagi oina ILP Guidelines semlaga, manung hotrong hobana maram oiduna yelhoumeegi interest ngakpagi onna teinaba fivam ama oihallakpa haibasi peace and good governance oiroi.

Anisubada, ILP Guideline asina Government of India amasung Ningthou Bodhachandra anigi marakta eenakhiba Merger Agreement 1949 gi onna teinaba oire. Agreement asida yumfam oiraga Manipur bu Government of India na lousinkhibani. Agreement ki spirit amasung yanakhiba wafamsing asi eekai khumnaba haibasi Government of India amasung masida tangjaraga leiriba Government of Manipur gi tangai fadaba thoudangni.

Agreement ki Article VIII da asumna eeri, “They [the Government of India] also undertake to preserve various laws, customs and conventions prevailing in the State pertaining to the social, economic and religious life of the people.”

Social and economic life fivam haiba asiga polity ga sagonnana chatli. Religious life haiba asida meekok amasung lainingga sagonnaba value system amasung culture yaoee. Masi loinamak mari leinei. Masi khudingmak asi yokkhatpa haibasi meetopki safudagi ngakthoklaba matamda khakta oigani.

Ahumsubada, ILP Guidelines asi Manipurgi national rights amasung Manipurda khudnariba yelhoumeesinggi indigenous rights ki tayonnaba oire. Guidelines asina spirit khonggaonariba international statutes sing adudi, mathangsitna thamlabada;
(a) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966),
(b) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966),
(c) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), and
(d) the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 hairibasing asini.

Marisubada, ILP Guideline asi khonggaonariba asi BJP National amasung State Unit ki leaders singna Manipur gi yelhoumee kan-gani haina eetat tattana haikhiba wafamsing adubusuni. Masi khakta nattana, Manipur gi yelhoumee kanjaningba meeyamsingna lishang sitna hourakkhiba eehousing adugi spirit amasung demand sing adubusu khonggaonabani.

Conclusion

Manipurgi yelhoumee singgi rights yokkhatpa haibasi khundariba yelhoumeesinggi apambani amasung thoudangni. Masigi rights amasung thoudang asibu eekai khumnaba haiba asi Government of Manipur amasung Government of India anigi tangai fadaba thoudangni. Masigi onna teinabada tourakpa haibasi tonganba arotpa agenda ama fangnabagidamak Manipur gi yelhoumee makhei leikha tahanbaga chap mannei.

Yelhoumeegi rights ngakchanaba hotnabada India gi Constitution da chayetnaba (maru oina Indian citizens gi paktaknaba Fundamental Rights or VII Schedule) leire hairabadi Constitution aduda exceptional provision hapchinbara natraga constitution semdokpara fagadabadu toufam thok-eei.

Eikhoi asi leikha takhrage meetopna dominate touhankhrage haibagi Merger Agreement yakhiba (India na lousinbada tumil leikhiba) oiroi haina khanjei. Government of Manipur asi Government of India ki kangkhul macha ama oibanina mating fongdokpa ngamdaba wafam kayasu leiramba yai. Adubu Government of Manipur na mating fongdokpa ngamdaba wafamsing adudi leibak meeyamda sinnathokpiyu.

Leipak meeyamgi khongjangna wafam adu henna wangba thak amada pukhatkani. Masigi onna teinabada waheina amasung policy da theidok theijin touraga meeyamgi apambasing amasung tangai fadabasing asi lanna oohanba or natheinaba hotnaba tarabadi; chin-ga thabakka mannadaba oxymoron, yelhoumee gi interest eekai khumnaningdaba alien force amana chabi tharaga chatpa mating leitaba leadership amagi symptom oina meeyamna lounagani.

Hwjiksu Guidelines ki asoiba awatpa leiribasing asi semdokpagi matam leiri.