Hmar political issues in Mizoram
- Part 4 -

Maria Pa *

Hmar Skirt - Puanlaisen - Tribal hand woven fabrics of Manipur :: Pix - Mutua Bahadur

The HPC (D) however, minced no words while clarifying on the accusation made to them by the Mizoram Home Minister with whom they seems to have grudge from before. While stating that their main intention in the particular occasion, they daringly said that, "Had our sole intention is killing the entire team, we could have very much accomplished it. But, as the small demand we have placed to the Mizoram government has not been given a patient hearing, we are only making our voice heard in that manner.

We laid our hands on some of them just to show that we can kill all of them and snatch away all the arms and ammunition under their possession. That was not at all something which we are very enthusiastic and we do feel sorry for the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones in the incident".

The outfit's press handout further nonchalantly mentions that, "After collecting few arms, we shook hands with our MLAs and others and, we part with them and leave the area calmly. We never touch any of their properties and money in their bags. We however warned them that, if the plea of a son to his father is being ignored again and again, we will not always remain silent but shout. We don't want to shed blood and make trouble.

Give us what is due to us and let us all leave happily and peacefully in Zoram". This statement is somewhat corroborated by the statement of one of the injured policeman, one Lalkhawngaia who narrated the incident to his friends from his Aizawl Civil Hospital bed on March 29, 2015.

The HPC(D) go further by declaring its boycott of the upcoming Village Council election slated to be held on April 30, 2015. The diktat is being unquestioningly obeyed in 31 villages across their Demand Areas as nobody came forward to file their Nomination Papers and those few who did withdrew it again during the stipulated time.

The state government has no other choice than to postpone election in the area and extend the term of the present Council Members indefinitely. It may be noted once again that such similar call has been given in the past and election of the Village Council were postpone more than twice and were held with the intervention of the Hmar civil societies.

The war of words did not stop. The HPC(D) in new statement while thanking the people of their demand area for abiding them not to participate in the ensuing Village/Local Council election also states that, 'the arrest of their C-in-C will not deter them in their movement for what is due to them. They assert that their demand for Autonomous Council under the Sixth Scheduled is valid and justifiable in every aspect and that they will continue to do so until the last drop of their blood.

Incidentally, the 1994 Mizoram-HPC MoS also clearly states that, "The Government of Mizoram have appreciated the concern and pressing demand of the HPC delegation, particularly regarding political safeguard as available under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India. Accordingly the Government of Mizoram will take immediate measures for inclusion of an area to be specified within the HPC Demand Area of Mizoram and the other non-Schedule to the Constitution of India so that the above-mentioned areas are safeguarded under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India".

It is now unlikely that the Mizoram government will have any formal or informal talks to resolve the issue with the HPC(D) in the immediate future. The HPC(D) on the other hand is also unlikely to be deterred by the arrest of their leader or the likely man hunt to be carried out by the Mizoram elite police force in the near future. They may always cite that, though they have ceasefire and tripartite talks are already underway in Assam and also, the HPC(D) under the banner of United People's Front are under Suspension of Operation in Manipur, there is no such arrangement in Mizoram. Hence their activities in Mizoram.

It will definitely be impossible for the HPC(D) to consistently strike to make their voice heard in Aizawl as they are up against a full-fledged state government with unlimited resources. But whether or not the Mizoram state government can completely crushed the HPC(D) leaders along with their roots is for all to see. One persistent question that will always keep ringing from neutral watcher is that, when many of the its other neighboring states can bring forward armed groups whose demands range Sixth Schedule to Statehood to Independence why can't the Mizoram government do so with HPC(D) whose only demand is Autonomous Council under Sixth Scheduled provision of the Constitution of India?

The Union Government of India is also already convinced of the futility of going heads and tongs with most of the Northeast India militants. It therefore managed to lure most of them to have a Ceasefire or Suspension of Operation and is in the process of having a tripartite talks one after another. The demand, strength, resources and influence of the HPC(D) is very minor when compared with other armed militants of the region. Hence, solving their problem might not be that difficult provided there is a political will to do so.

It is also time for the Mizoram government as well as the chauvinistic Mizos, NGOs and political parties to admit that as much as they want to protect and promote Mizo nationhood, it is their responsibility to also think of measures on how to bring physical, emotional and spiritual development of the minority tribes like the Hmars who feel that they are being deprived of their dues and shares in the state. The Hmars will feel so as they always proudly asserts that they are one of the first settlers in the present Mizoram state.

Many villages of Mizoram which includes, Thiak, Zote, Chawnchhim, Khawzawl, Khawbung, Biate, Darngawn, Keivom Zo, etc still bear the name of a Hmar clan or sub-clan is a living testimony of this undeniable fact. The active participation and contribution of the Hmars of Mizoram and its adjoining states of Manipur and Assam for the birth of Mizoram as a District Council in the 1950s, Union Territory in the early 1970s and finally to a full-fledged state under the Union of India in 1986 is also something every Mizo historian, academician or politician cannot simply ignored.

Within the Mizo society, Hmars are one of the biggest clans in terms of population. It is only that majority of Hmars in Mizoram do no longer speak Hmar dialect as they are already absorbed the Lushai (Duhlien) speaking Mizos. All those who put 'Hmar' as their surname do not speak the dialect necessarily. However, needless to point out here that many Hmar leaders of the state are also Lushai speaking Hmars. These groups of Hmars may ultimately be the game changers of the fragile politics of Mizoram where search for one's identity is prevalent and valid as much as it is in this wide, wide world.

The state government will definitely have the power to chase down the present set of armed or unarmed leaders who fight for the Hmars' cause in Mizoram, put them behind bars, killed or left alone to meet their natural death; but it is unlikely that they will uproot the movement altogether by using brute force and intimidations. Even if the Lal Thanhawla led Congress government stood firm and feel that conceding to the demands of the HPC(D) at this juncture is not viable it can atleast try to appease the Hmars of Mizoram by making the SHDC fully functional and fulfill the promise and commitments it officially made its 1994 accord. Else, the most peaceful state of the region is likely to lose its character with some parts of the state coming under the dreaded AFSPA 1958. If at all, the Mizoram government, political parties and prominent NGOs of the state think that the issue of the Hmars is similar those of the non-indigenous Chakmas and Brus, it is upto them.

Concluded..