Blockade's aftermath : Manipur

ADNI *

After hectic parley between the Home Ministry and Naga students, the economic blockade along the two National Highways of the landlocked Manipur was temporarily suspended on 18 June after 66 days.

Yet, neither public enthusiasm is seen, nor the transporters and drivers have come forward to resume traffic on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway even after two weeks of lifting the blockade. This is primarily due to the conditional lifting of the blockade after inflicting serious body blow to the Manipur polity and economy.

Its total economic loss has not been officially calculated but a rough estimation puts it at Rs. 170 billion at the rate of Rs. 2.5 billion per day. In the conflict ridden and fragile economy of Manipur, the actual sufferings of the people of Manipur are manifold.

And normalization is still not in sight because supply lines have not been fully restored, as transporters and drivers have decided not to ply their vehicles on the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway which passes through Nagaland. The other National Highway 53 (Silchar-Imphal) is still under major repair and is not fully operational at present.

In a high profile meeting convened by an enigmatic civil society organization, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) expressed solidarity with transporters and drivers on their stand to stay off NH-39 blaming the "flip-flop decision" of the Government of India for the present Manipur crisis.

The transporters and drivers are demanding re-imbursement of the illegal taxes collected by the NSCN (IM), an underground outfit now in peace talks with the government along with deployment of National Highway Protection Force along the two National Highways of Manipur. The said meeting also demanded "adequate compensation for the loss incurred by the people of Manipur during the two month long economic blockade".

Though, the economic blockade is lifted, there will be no let up in the supply chain and the stock position in the local markets, giving a large space to the black- marketeers and hoarders. LPG is still out of the market, as are other petroleum products. For five litres of petrol, one has to wait 10-15 hrs in the queue. At the peak of farming season now there is no fertilizer in the market. People's patience is under a severe test. Government must act before it is too late.

Earlier in the 2001 Manipur blockade, an all-party delegation lobbied Manipur's case in New Delhi. However, this time no political activism is seen except a stray indefinite hunger strike by Manipur People's Party at Imphal. Thus, the fate of the 25 lakh Manipuris is left in the sole hands of the ruling Secular Progressive Front government, headed by the Chief Minister Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh.

At the height of the current imbroglio, an elite citizen group comprising of Army officers (retd), legal luminaries and business fraternity from Manipur proceeded to New Delhi and pleaded Manipur's case. Among others, they called on Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Dr Karan Singh of Congress, Mrs. Brinda Karat and Mr. Sitaram Yechuri of CPI (M), Mr. Arun Jaitly of BJP and Union Home Secretary Mr. G.K. Pillai.

All the leaders were not fully aware of the ground position and dehumanizing situation of the people of Manipur caused by the economic blockade. Most of them enquired from the delegation, "as to why you are opposing Mr. Muivah's visit to Manipur," showing Manipur's case that was not pleaded properly in New Delhi.

Many including the top leaders of the state are not fully aware of the huge resources spent on projecting Naga problem in the mainstream by the 'protagonists' of the Naga cause naturally making it a one-sided version of the story, going very much against Manipur's interest. Latest example is the proposed NSCN (IM) leader Mr. Muivah's home visit to Manipur, which was taken at the face value by both the Central Government and national media.

But the real intention is otherwise from his itinerary, which include various public meetings in the Naga dominated areas of Manipur. But once the necessary clarifications were made by the delegates from Manipur, the central leaders realized and then retorted, "why you have not so long projected your view points?" Such wrong perception must be countervailed by a similar campaign on behalf of Manipur.

Unless the intricacies are properly explained, the current stand-off along NH-39 (Imphal-Dimapur National Highway) may even boomerang on Manipur interest, given New Delhi's posturing to withdraw security forces deployed along the NH-39.

The crucial need of the hour is to establish a strategic elite group to lobby in New Delhi and to project Manipur's viewpoint in proper perspective. Interestingly way back in 1991, Nitish Bhardhawaj, better known as Sri Krishna of the popular Mahabharata TV serial, in his Imphal visit expressed his willingness to be associated with such a task.

Then, none noticed this offer of the iconic TV star. Time has come for a concerted thinking and action for communal harmony and peaceful co-existence rather than waste precious time and energy on trifling issues which may misproject the image of Manipur in the mainstream. The sooner the true image of Manipur is properly refocused, the better for Manipur.