Dynamics of bandhs and economic blockades

RS Jassal *

Th Muivah's well intentioned though , proposed peace visit to his native village - Somdal - in Manipur after a lapse of 47 years of stay away has boomeranged into inflicting ravaging effect on the relationship ; man to man, at differing scale, inter & intra within two major communities i.e., Nagas and Meities, seemingly so.

It is also a fact it does not have absolute affect since opinions differ in various power blocks. People do know now how to sail through such situations dictated by past events and motives behind present ones. But if they are not attended to deftly the ultimate results can be disastrous &ominous.

Immediate Actions

Both Govts. of Manipur & Nagaland must not leave any loopholes to be widened if unable to plug. Since both Govts. are democratically elected functioning under same Constitution duly sponsored by Govt. of India under federal system, the Govts need not give any impression of animosity/differences on maintaining law & order on respective sides. Activities of frontal organizations of various UGs groups must be kept under strict control other than 'reach-outs' to each other/ either side to engage in positive dialogues.

There are some definite reasons at the calculus but objection to denial of entry to NSF President on 3rd May to Manipur, ADC elections have been used as plank to put / continue economic blockade given to appear as grudge against blocking entry to Th. Muivah to Manipur, which is not only illegitimate approach rather it is inviting legal action against those who enforce, (authority Supreme Court of India order on the subject). Even if not so, it is non- humanitarian as people from all walks of life are affected in one way or the other seeing the peculiarities of the sub geographic in Manipur.

Muivah's Wish

To visit home village is welcome to the people both hills and valleys and most of the Meitei CSO's also. On my personal interaction with some well meaning personalities under heavy loads of age, experience & baskets of sentiments, I find them hit by surprise & helplessness. They wish him to be received personally in private & public function to honour him, hear him, remind him of school/college day's friendships, and apologize for hurt if any.

In short, it was an opportunity missed offered so to persuade him to reset his path of peace for mutual harmony, amity, and trust and reverse the current standoff looking like hard nutto break. But can it happen at this stage? Yes. Only miracle may do it.

And miracles are also performed by God in human forms only. Then elders who have been in Govt. service, Public service, scholars and intellectuals feel sad that opportunity so offered by his desire to visit has not only been allowed to go waste but diverted the flow of some smooth sailing boats too; which may take some time to re-harness .

The big question 'is' He cannot come alone wherever venue is fixed. It is Govt. of India responsibility to ensure his safety. Despite of this he has to be accompanied by a host of his own bodyguards & protocols.

This is exactly what happened when he left Hebron camp HQ with his large entourage which became difficult for persons carrying big, voluminous law books with them to reconcile with. Irrespective of intentions right or wrong but it definitely transmitted wrong signals all around with programmes of public meetings notified, welcome gates costing thousands of Rs erected and NSCN (IM) flags in thousands printed, distributed and yet kept in concealed as reserve.

If all such flags/miniature flags had been allowed to be displayed, perhaps NPF flags, Indian Tri-colour national flags would have looked pale in front of their flutter. If such things and avoidable 'halla-gulla' is kept on one side, perhaps respected Muivah deserves a very warm welcome at Imphal before going to his birth place-Somdal.

Anyway it may happen again. I wish &pray it shall happen soon and under congenial times and conducive atmosphere. When I say it is not exaggeration, many Meitei's leaders as aforesaid are keen on this. Who knows if it happens, history may take a new turn as severing of centuries old links are extremely painful.

Tribal customary laws, states laws and even Indian laws do exist to strike honourable reconciliation seven in cases of this nature too, only if levers of egotism, self-assertive righteousness are lowered and refuge under Christian Vaishavnite faith is taken. Now turn to ADC elections issue.

ADC Elections

No need to educate people much on this issue as majority of the ELITE (Hill leaders) are neck deep involved in solving this riddle for past three decades and yet complicated it themselves rather solving. Many Naga leaders/bodies argue for Schedule Six.

Truth is Schedule SIX is not applicable to Manipur. Schedule V (Paras 6-7) is applicable to Manipur which sanctions Autonomous District Councils [(Art 244 (1)] for hill people. First time elections to District Councils were held during late 80's but later suspended due HAC (Hill Area Committee) which consist of all members from the Hills asking for amendment not once but thrice. So amendments were done (2001- 2008), but elections were withheld.

Hill people blamed the State Govt. for denying opportunities of granting self governance to them due autonomous Councils not made available and thus denial of empowerment. After 20 years the elections have been ordered Panchayats (to valley people for grass root governance empowerment) are functioning in the villages in the valley. It is realized both systems differ in level of empowerment which puts hill people at a little lower pedestal, hence most of them prefer Sch VI.

Now only two options are available either go ahead with elections and re-ask for sanctioning Schedule VI which is time consuming. Since after State Assembly, it is still Parliament that has to pass it. Whether that will solve the problem or otherwise is contestable and economic blockade is linked with that also to great extent. Under law both blockade of NH and interference in public elections by an individual or a group are punishable offences and annoying the supreme authority i.e., (Home) New Delhi.

In fine, due to blockade, Valley and Hills area people are suffering alike some to high and some to low degrees. In a conscientious approach it is recommended:

Either

(a) Govts. of Manipur & Nagaland with backing from the Centre open the blockade by force and ensure deploying of at least two battalions of IRB ( one from each state) to form as 'National Highway Protection Force' from Khatkati to Imphal. This to include adequate strength from Mahila Force too as the first force to be encountered by the police is from Mahila only and men hide behind women force.

OR

(b) sponsor move of volunteers groups for reaching to agitating bandh organizers to persuade them to lift the bandh by signing MOU's which has already taken roots for modern day governance tool in Manipur.

(c) A core group (Govt. sponsored) from mutually acceptable persons to move to contact CSO counterparts for bringing change in the mindsets of top guns of the UG groups/OG(over ground) intellectuals through efforts multi pronged &seek media support to publishing only non damaging write ups from the writers.

Let us wish best of luck to either side to go logistical & end the logjam by adopting loops of trust. Needless to say quantum of economic losses and human sufferings blockades cause!!