Not all in designated camps
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 12, 2023 -

Mark the stress highlighted by the words given in italics In the heading of the lead news story of this newspaper in the May 11 edition, 'Some, not all, SoO cadres found In camps.'

The stress on the words 'not all' be easy to understand in the face of the growing allegations that the armed cadres belonging to outfits which have signed the SoO pact with the Government are moving around and engaging the security forces in gun battles and even helping one community, in the fight against another community.

Now as on May 11, 2023 this has gone beyond the stage of allegation if one goes by the report that a police commando has been snot dead in an encounter with suspected SoO cadres at Tronglaobi on the Imphal-Churachandpur line.

That this comes just one day after a Jawan of the Assam Rifles received a bullet injury in a shoot out with, again suspected SoO cadres, at Dolaithabi, would not need a genius to put two and two together and Work out that it makes four and not three or five.

Remember too that several allegations had been raised earlier against the SoO cadres, with khundrakpam Assembly constituency MLA of the Congress Th Lokeshwar mincing no words in asserting that it is the armed cadres who are leading the clash.

Note the word of caution sounded by other NGOs notably the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the COCOMI.

Not that no fingers were pointed at the SoO outfits .earlier but the accusations have become more and more louder ever since the clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis started from May 3 evening.

Add the allegations raised that gun bran-dishing SoO cadres could be seen openly taking part in the Tribal Solidarity March via the video shots that went viral on the social media and this should be an open and shut case.

The important question is whether the Centre, particularly the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has taken note of the allegations and the cases that have emerged in the last 48 hours.

Not all present in their designated camps is the line maintained by the Security Advisor and this has not come from anyone lesser and the natural question is how the Centre would respond to this report.

Are SoO camps some sort of a highway inn or a hotel or a motel where lodgers can come in and leave as they please ?

This is a question which only the Government can answer and answer they must.

Surely Manipur and her people can do without this sort of politics, a politics that allows armed cadres to move around freely with their arms and engage the security personnel in gun fights.

The politics of peace via the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact can be dangerous and as things have turned Out, this is being played out in all its dirty ramifications across the nook arid crapriy of Manipur.

The casualty is the people and the people who are out there to maintain law and order.

A semblance of normalcy, this is the line maintained by the Government and this is what can be seen on the roads of Imphal but the underlying suspicion, the tension and the probability of sporadic cases of violence breaking out anywhere is still very much there and this is where the need for the people to reach out to each other is important.

The civil society organisations should take the lead in restoring a degree of sanity and so far it is a little disturbing to note that apart from COCOMI, no initiative to restore trust and confidence amongst the people could be seen prominently.

There are many prominent CSOS representing the Meiteis and so is the case with the Kukis, and it is hoped that the s organisations break their silence and go about with the task of restoring peace and sanity.

People to people contact is the need of the hour but for that to happen, it is Incumbent that the right atmosphere is created.

Reining in the SoO cadres as well as organisations or groups which have struck a radical posture on either side can be the first meaningful step towards restoring a semblance of peace and sanity.

It may take time, but efforts towards this end should start now.