Don't let the dogs rule over you!

Concerned Meitei *

For how long do we have to face the threat of death? For how long do we have to shed the blood of our brothers and sisters? For how long do we have to live life in fear? For how long do we have to sit silently and watch the dogs rule?

For how long do we have to sell our votes? For how long do we have to keep our mouths shut from speaking the truth? For how long do we have to fight with guns? Won't we give peace a chance?

You can never achieve freedom by coercion and instilling fear on the minds of the people. It would be foolish to think that we can get our rights by sacrificing the lives of our own people. What good would be freedom when there is no one left to enjoy it?

In today's world, wars are fought by open minds across the table and many peace deals and treaties are signed over a cup of coffee. Isn't it high time our freedom fighters reach an agreement with the central government and restore peace in the state?

I'm not asking you to trade Manipur with the central government. I'm not saying that we should stop fighting for freedom. But you can at least make a deal to stop the killings; a ceasefire agreement would be good enough to start with. If you check the death figures of the last 10 years you will find that the number of civilians died is more than the number of militants or security forces.

Who is responsible for this? You may say it's the AFSPA that's killing the civilians. Here, I would like to question each one of you: Who invited AFSPA? I have never heard that GOI imposed AFSPA just after Manipur was merged with the Indian Union. Remember, AFSPA is a counter-product of the rising insurgency in the state.

At this juncture, I have a question to all our so called freedom fighters. If NSCN can negotiate with Government of India, why can't you. If KNF can strike a deal, why can't you. If all the militant groups unite and approach the GOI, there would be no question of failing in having a negotiation.

But why would they care to unite and talk out. They would rather demarcate Manipur into several jurisdictions and distribute among themselves like a piece of cake. Moreover, it's easier to collect illegal taxes on gunpoint.

It's easier to demand certain percentage of governmental and non-governmental contracts. Also it's easier to send a demand letter asking for certain amount as if owed to them and throw a bomb if denied. Moreover, it's far easier to work as OGWs (over ground workers) for dirty politicians and cheap organizations.

Why should the civilians always bear the brunt? It is better to realize that somehow you are also responsible for their deaths. So before it's too late, change your policies. You need superior strategies to reach your goal. Waging war without clear strategies is just like entering a war zone unarmed. And that would be as stupid as suicide.

Also understand the ground reality before you raise war against India. Do you have enough resources to stand in your own? Do you have skilled manpower to set up factories and produce the basic necessities? Do you have enough money to have a stable economy?

And who's going to rule the state; PLA, RPF, UNLF, KYKL, KCP, PREPAK, who else? Eventually, Manipur would become a militant's state from a militarized one. And that would be equally worse seeing the number of groups actively involving in every sphere of an individual's life.

Once upon a time when I was a kid, I remember freedom fighters sacrificing their lives demanding separation from the Indian sub-continent. I could never understand what made them think that Manipur can stand alone as a nation without any resources and skilled manpower but at least they knew what they want and many lost their lives for the sincere cause. Their first priority was safety of the public.

And they didn't demand money from the people to feed themselves or build houses. They had specific targets and they strike them only. They were the true soldiers of Kangleipak.

The scenario is different today. With so many groups fighting for leadership, it's difficult to understand what they are fighting for. Are they fighting for separation from the Indian Union? No, I don't think so. They are not fighting for freedom or for the people anymore. They are fighting for power only.

You may be ready to discard all Indian products but what about the Indian Currency. You have banned hindi movies and burned down hindi books but why hasn't anyone come out and burned Indian money. You love the Indian currency as much as you hate the country India. Does this means that your fight against India is for some selfish motive?

If the student bodies and Apunba Lup strictly followed the judicial enquiry of the killings of Ch Sanjit and Rabina Devi on July 23rd BT Road incident and find out ways for a fast track court, the commandos involved in the killings would have been proved guilty by law and would have been punished as desired by all.

If the student bodies have shown half the determination in proving the encounter a fake in court, the two months class boycott wouldn't have been required at all. And consequently, our dear CM would have been easily pulled down.

At least we would have got a good reason to ask for his resignation from the CM's post. And if we managed to get the evidence of our state leaders being irresponsible and corrupted, the central government would not have thought twice in terminating him.

But who cares. We are still so uncivilized and ignorant that no one can think of a better means. Whoever has the gun and money is powerful enough to dictate. Isn't that what they have been doing till today?

After selling out your votes to O Ibobi, today you are demanding his resignation from the CM's post. And you think he would resign. Even all the people in the state wants him to resign, the central government won't let him go. You know why? Because of the simple reason that there is no evidence against him. Better sharpen your minds to find a stronger means to pull him down.

The day people rise up and stand against every injustice done to them, there will be change in the system. But the more people bear it, the more people will be suppressed.

I'm sure no one has got the answer and looking at how things are going, it will take ages to bring peace in Manipur. But we can certainly make the first move by changing ourselves for a better tomorrow else we would see a day when people stay out of the house to guard the dogs.