Common future, peaceful co-existence and restoration of pre-merger political status of Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr Khomdon Lisam *

Mass Rally for the common future of Manipur from THAU Ground to Khuman Lampak on 6 February 2016 :: Pix - Deepak OInam

First of all, I would like to make a humble appeal to His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur, the Hon'ble Chief Minister, all Hon'ble Ministers, all Hon'ble MLAs and all political leaders of all political parties in Manipur to flag off and join the "UNITY RALLY " being organized by UCM.

AMUCO, CCSK in collaboration with other civil organizations to show unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups of Manipur at this time of crisis, turmoil, uncertainty and anarchy and to show loyalty to our 2000 year old motherland called Manipur.

It is not below one's dignity to show and work for peace, unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups in Manipur. This is not illegal, not anti-India or not unconstitutional. We want our leaders to show their leadership qualities at this time of crisis as a true representatives of the people.

I also would like to appeal to all Government employees, all academicians, all lawyers , all social workers, all professional groups, all members of the public & private enterprises, all CSOs of hills and valley, all sports organizations, all youth clubs, all women's organizations to revisit the history of Manipur, pre-merger and post merger scenario of Manipur and join the peace and unity rally to dispel any misunderstanding , communication gaps, lack of trust between various ethnic groups in Manipur. This is a Peace Rally.

Jesus said – "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be the children of God". Nowadays, many fake histories are coming up to justify their ethnic demands. God can not change history but historians can. A passionate attachment to ones particular ethnic group may produce a variety of evils. The virus of ethnic ties and communalism is spreading very fast, faster than bird-flu threatening the very survival of state. We should resolve to pave the way for a grand peace and communal harmony among all ethnic groups for all generations to come. The flame of patriotism and loyalty to the state must not and shall not die. Live for nothing or die for some thing. This is a cause worth fighting for and worth dying for."

Once Charles De Gaulle, President of the French Republic said, "Politics is too important and too serious a matter to be left only to the politicians". Edmund Burke also said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". This is what is happening in Manipur today.

Manipur is burning, in turmoil, chaos, confusion and uncertainty everywhere due to inept handling of important public issues by the Government of India and the State Government. The leaders of political parties lack competency, sincerity, honesty ad loyalty to the mother land. Patriotism is not enough, you have to protect the minority.

This is pre-eminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Why did the Manipur State Legislative Assembly withdrew one bill after another and could not come up with a meaningful and effective bill according to the wishes of both valley and hill people by following proper procedure without hurting the sentiments of hill people. That is why Churachandpur is burning with the death of nine people. We all condemn this in the strongest terms. The Manipur State Legislative Assembly lost face when many outsiders criticized its credibility. On 10 September, 2015, Nagaland Chief Minister T.R Zeliang requested Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister to render advice to the Manipur Governor not to give his assent to the three Bills that were passed in the Legislative Assembly on 31 August, 2015.

On 16 January, 2015, P.A Sangma, Ex-Speaker of Lok Sabha stated that he supported the "demand for Kuki land" and there is need for a "Need for a second State Reorganisation" (Sangai Express dated 17 January, 2015).

On 16 September 2015, Khekiho Zhimomi, MP (Rajya Sabha) from Nagaland said, "It has been proven that the tribal and the Meiteis of Manipur cannot co-exist peacefully in the same State" and urged "Divide Manipur into two Union Territories".

He further said, "If the Governor gives the assent to the Bills, then the clashes that Manipur will witness which be far more extreme than what it has witnessed in recent times. It is a complete deadlock for the Government," Is it not declaration of war or is it due to ignorance? On 10 September, 2015, Lal Thanhawla, Chief Minister of Mizoram told Prime Minister Modi, "I would like to request you to ensure that the Central Government does not give its consent to the three Bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly as they are directly against the tribal people of the State".

On 16 September 2015, Thangso Baite, MP from Manipur, reportedly told IANS: "Creation of two union territories out of Manipur definitely can be a possible solution". This unheard of attack upon our Legislative Assembly is perfidy unparalleled in the history of democratic India. On 27 September, 2015, Meghalaya Civil Societies submitted a joint memorandum to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi alleging that the Government of Manipur has violated the Constitutional safeguards of the indigenous/tribal people of Manipur.

Papu Yadav had threatened to drag out all Manipuris from trains going through Bihar. But our political leaders are busy in blaming each other on the eve of Municipal and Nagar Panchayat elections. This reminds me of the remark of Jarod Kintz – "I once saw a politician walking a dog, and I thought, "How absurd — an animal walking an animal." Then I thought, "If given a choice, I would rather vote for the dog."

Napoléon Bonaparte once said – "In politics, stupidity is not a handicap." Our political leaders are always shouting – the Naga Peace Accord should not disintegrate the boundary of Manipur.

Nowadays, even Muivah is saying the same thing. What Muivah is planning is "Shared Sovereignty" for all Naga inhabited areas including Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with the geographical boundaries remaining intact. The Manipur State Legislative Assembly enjoying absolute majority cannot come up with any idea to condemn the unnecessary outside intervention and to devise a strategy to restore the pristine glory of pre-merger political status of Manipur.

What we require today is the unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups for restoring peace and communal harmony in Manipur. The destiny of Manipur is to be decided by the Manipuris and not by the Government of India or Nagaland or Mizoram or any big state like UP, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu or West Bengal who command majority in Parliament. We should stop the Master-Slave relationship with the Government of India. Manipur must be made a safe place for democracy. Peace must be planted upon tested foundations of love, unity and communal harmony.

Shared Sovereignty for Nagaland

On 3 August, 2015 the secret historic Naga Peace Accord between the Government of India (GOI) and the NSCN-IM was signed at the residence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi between R.N Ravi, interlocutor on behalf of the GOI and Thuingaleng Muivah General Secretary or Ato Kilonser on behalf of the NSCN-IM. For the first time, the GOI has accepted the "Unique history of Nagas" and reiterated the words "sovereignty lies with the people". On 4th August 2015 R.N Ravi said, "We have agreed to share sovereign power with each other" and that the relationship between Nagas and Indians was based on sharing of a "sovereign power,".

The word "Shared Sovereignty" may mean that Nagaland may have separate Constitution, separate flag, separate Parliament, separate Prime Minister, separate National Anthem, separate passport, separate Emblem, separate currency, separate seat in the United Nations, having separate Embassies in different countries, separate service cadres. But final details are yet to be worked out. They may have joint responsibility for defence, external affaires and communication.

On 18 August, 2015, Th. Muivah, NSCN-IM general secretary stated that his group has not given up the demand for sovereignty and integration of the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The idea of Shared Sovereignty for the Nagas are found very attractive to Nagas and Kukis of Manipur. They do not want to be left out. That is why they are organising a movement against the valley people in the name of three bills. All the Manipuris are supporting the demand of shared sovereignty for Nagaland.

Manipur State Legislative Assembly should take a Resolution on Restoration of Pre-Merger Political Status of Manipur

Our Hon'ble Chief Minister was meeting the Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble Home Minister for collecting a copy of the Naga Peace Agreement. But he returned empty-handed. He would have questioned Prime Minister and Home Minister- "If you respect the Unique history of Nagas, what about our 2000 year old history and forced annexation of Manipur in 1949. You should grant Pre-Merger Political Status or Shared Sovereignty to Manipur before you grant the same to Nagaland." All political leaders of all political parties in Manipur and the Manipur State Legislative Assembly may seriously debate on this issue of restoration of Pre-Merger Political Status of Manipur in the forthcoming Assembly Session from 16 Februry,2016.

Manipur State Legislative Assembly may adopt a resolution on restoration of pre-merger political status of Manipur. All members of Nagaland State Legislative Assembly voluntarily offered to resign en masse to create a condition for starting a government based on the Naga Peace Accord. Similarly, the Manipur State Legislative Assembly should voluntarily resign and create a condition for restoration of pre-merger political status of Manipur. This is not illegal and this is not unconstitutional. This is more or less the same as the Shared Sovereignty which the Government of India is giving to Nagaland. The Government of India may not have the courage to grant Shared Sovereignty to Nagaland before they grant Pre-Merger Political Status to Manipur. This will be win-win situation.

Let us stop working only for a particular ethnic group

We should stop working only for the Meiteis or only for Kukis or only for Nagas or only for Meitei Pangans. We are sons and daughters of the same family. We may have problems but everything can be solved through dialogue. We should think and leave a bright and progressive future for our children. We should show our first loyalty to our motherland, Manipur-not to our ethnicity. All the ethnic groups in Manipur have a common origin and common ancestor. Let us encourage inter-ethnic marriages. We should jointly participate not only in festivals but also in marriage ceremonies and death rituals. We should organize "Ningol Chakkouba" for our hill sisters. All employees should be ready to work in hill areas. In the past, thousands of Kuki and Naga people have been assimilated into Meitei society and similarly thousands of Meiteis have been assimilated into Kuki and Naga societies.

Therefore, we should have a common future and work for peaceful co-existence. Let us not forget that the Government of India is inciting us to fight with each other to fulfill their hidden agenda.

Ancient Manipur Kingdom

The kingdom of Manipur existed since 1445 B.C, had all the basic requirements of a kingdom such as kingship, a capital or seat of power, an administrative set-up, a territory with well defined boundary including regional principalities, rules, regulations and laws of the land which guide governance, courts of justice, revenue and administrative division of the kingdom in the form of provinces, districts, counties, boroughs etc., hierarchy of nobles and officials, an army to defend the kingdom or to attack neighbouring countries for annexation, coinage for trade and commerce, literature, script and culture indicating civilization, a recorded history for future generations and so on.

Manipur king preserved the unity of all tribes in Manipur by preserving the autonomy of the villages chiefs and never interfered in the internal affaires of the villages. The king himself said, "I am the thread – that makes the beautiful garland of different flowers of various colours of various tribes".

The king used to sing "Chingna koina pansaba, Haona koina pangnagakpa" (the hills constitute the fort, the hill men are the security guards of the fort). This practice of unity in diversity was the unifying strength of Manipur, which is rarely visible in the history of other nations.

This is the secret of having a Manipuri civilization lasting for more than 2000 years although other civilisations had collapsed before time. The Indian democracy is hardly 66 years old but now so many conflicts have come up due to too many interference and too much control by the centre in the name of secularism. The Government of India must learn from Manipur history how to sustain a civilisation for more than 2000 years.

To be continued...