Agenda before the Drafting Committee on ILP, Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

ILP : Meeyamgi Meefam - Public Convention at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen on July 23 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

Now the people's mass movement on ILP under the banner of the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) is entering a crucial phase. On 16 March, 2015, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the "Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill-2015" even as five Opposition MLAs walked out of the House. The Bill, first introduced in the House on 13 March was debated for two hours before it was finally passed..

Immediately after the Bill was passed in the Assembly, protests erupted in different parts of the State and the normal life came to a standstill. The JCILPS, which is spearheading the movement rejected the Bill and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Bill. They burnt the copies of the Bill, the effigies of Chief Minister Shri O Ibobi Singh, Home Minister Gaikhangam and Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Lokeshore. The protesters also shouted many slogans demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister who allegedly failed to work for the welfare of the people of the State. .Shri O.Ibobi Singh declared that the door is kept wide open for discussion of the Bill by the public.

Five Points of JCILPS

Earlier, the JCILPS submitted to the State Government for incorporating five points in the bill. The five points are
(1) Issue of Pass to all migrant workers at various entry points
(2). Cut off base year for implementation of the Bill should be -1951 . It was reportedly based on the earlier agreement signed on 22 July, 1980 between the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) and All Manipur Students Co-ordinating Committee (AMSCOC) with the Government of Manipur followed by a second agreement signed on 9 November, 1994 between the AMSU with the Government of Manipur.
(3). Giving no land ownership rights to all outside migrants entering Manipur after 1951
(4)Strengthening of labour department for registration and regulation of inter-state migrant labourers, and
(5). Detection and deportation of illegal migrants ( entering after 1951)

The Hon'ble Chief Minister said that the State Government does not have the authority to sort out migrants by taking 1951 as the base year and that 50% to 75% of the recommendations made by the All Political Parties Committee have been incorporated in the Bill. However , the JCILPS said that by telling so, the Hon'ble Chief Minister is deceiving the people. The All Political Parties Committee was formed on 8 August 2014,which submitted a 282 page report to the State Government

The JCILPS announced that time has come for all to start certain measures to protect the indigenous people of Manipur. It is within international laws, backed by the United Nations, to safeguard the indigenous people of Manipur. The Indian Constitution too should endorses the call to protect the indigenous people of Manipur.

The JCILPS intensified the movement announcing civil curfew for the outside migrants asking them to remain indoors and non-co-operation movement and street protest everywhere. Unfortunately, one Master Sapam Robinhood (16 years) , son of Sapam Romesh Singh of Anand Singh Academy School, Imphal died in the Police firing of tear gas on 8 July, 2015. The death of Robinhood further invigorated the movement and added fuel to the fire. Immediately curfew was imposed. But the protestors turned out in thousands in many parts of Manipur defying the curfew.

These instances shows the trust deficit between JCILPS and the State Government.

Why is there no trust between the JCILPS and the State Government ?

Trust is very important for a healthy relationship. There can not be any friendship between friends without trust, Even the husband and wife cannot live together without mutual trust. In the beginning, the JCILPS and the people put immense trust and hope on Shri O. Ibobi Singh, the Hon'ble Chief Minister. Making a new Bill according to the wishes of the people and securing assent of the Governor and the president is not an easy job.

Shri O. Ibobi Singh is a courageous man , who acted against the Indian Constitution and countered the heavy pressure from the Union Home Ministry in preventing Mr. Th. Muivah , Secretary of NSCN-IM to enter Manipur on 3-4 May, 2010. That time, the whole population of Manipur except the Nagas was solidly behind him. He can do wonders for the sake of Manipur.

That kind of determination and courage is required this time also for protecting Manipuris from reducing to minority in our own lands. I think Shri O. Ibobi Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister has a genuine desire to do everything possible to protect the indigenous people of Manipur. But his advisor who was supposed to do the actual work are not serious enough to understand the problem. That is why there are lapses resulting to breach of trust.

The relationship between JCILPS and the State Government is spoiled by lack of honesty, transparency, determination, sincerity, commitment , willpower and courage on the part of the State Government as evidenced from the following instances :-

o JCILPS demands a bill for protection of indigenous people whereas the State Government passed a bill for protecting their vote banks

o Who drafted the bill or who are the members of the drafting committee is not disclosed. Shri Laisom Ibomcha Singh, Hon'ble MKA said in the recently concluded Manipur Legislative Assembly that three officials are responsible for drafting of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 .He chose not to mention the names of the officials. It is rumoured that the bill was drafted by a migrant doctor –not by a Legal Expert to protect the migrant workers.

o What are the recommendations of the All Political Parties Committee is not disclosed.

o What are the recommendations of legal experts is not disclosed According to legal experts, any Bill or Act without punishment clauses is just like a paper tiger and will not be effective. They also recommended for protection of ancestral land . But none of these recommendations are incorporated in the Bill.

o On 9th July, 2015 ( the next day after death of a young student (Sapam Robinhood) , the Chief Minister disclosed that the Bill was sent to the Governor for assent on 20 March and the Governor informed on 23 June, 2015 that the bill is reserved for consultation with the president of India. If the Chief Minister would have announced the information earlier, the JCIPS would have waited for the decision of the Governor and the death of Master Sapam Robinhood would not have happened. Nobody knows the intension f the Chief Minister for withholding such an important information for such a long time.

o Now the questions of Inner Line Permit System is becoming a mater of high sentimental value after the death of Master Sapam Robinhood. He has been accorded the title of "Lamjing Meira ". Although he died on 8 July, 2015, his family members do not claim the dead body even after a lapse of 18 days. The time of his death rituals like Asti Sanjai,, Sorat is already over. His family family members said that they will claim the dead body only after the bill is passed . These statements of Master Sapam Robinhood's parents added much sentiments to the mass movement for Inner Line Permit System.

The JCILPS expressed a very much sentimental slogan that " we will continue the fight even if all students are killed.". One woman on the street lamented " if the Government wants blood, come and kill me. I am ready ". The mass movement has been converted in to a " Do or Die " movement. If the situation is not handled carefully with all honesty, transparency, there may be possibility of turning the movement against our own leaders as happened on 18 June, 2001. Abraham Lincoln once said – "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail. Without it, nothing can succeed."

To be continued...