Manipur as a hot spot of Asia

Manipur is now a hot spot of Asia due to insurgency which has affected every part of social fabric of Manipur. The State, its democratic institutions and its tools of governance have been greatly weakened. The State and the Government machinery exist due to the security provided by the Security Force of India and some State Police. There is violence everywhere. Killing, kidnapping and conflict between the armed insurgents and security force and Police have made Manipur a killing field. The efforts made by the State to protect its bureaucracy and other democratic institution have led to the emergence of State terrorism verses insurgency.

The Assembly which is the highest temple of democracy has not engaged itself to solve the problem. It has become mere forum to perform the constitutional function of passing the budget. The political parties are evading the issue. The political parties or the individual leaders have been under great pressure and are helpless. Struggle for power and use of power to continue to be in power is the political ethos in Manipur.

Unfortunately, the state police, the dreaded and hated commandos and other police force have turned into the instruments of terror. In the name of fighting the insurgents, the police have trampled the laws. And the Indian Security Forces are also violating human rights in their counter insurgency operations.

The basic issue

There is insurgency in Manipur. We do not have peace. We do not have the safety of the lives and properties of the citizens. The absence of peace is due to this complex phenomenon of insurgency. The State Government and its machinery have perceived the insurgency as a matter of law and order in terms of killing of the rebels, arrest and seizure of arms and ammunitions. It should be perceived as political problem and a human problem with social, economic, moral and psychological ramification.

However, we have to note the prevalence of comparatively peaceful situation in the Naga inhabited hill districts due to ceasefire (informal) or absence of direct conflict between the security forces and the Naga insurgents. The ceasefire between the security forces and Kuki armed outfits has led to less violence in these areas. But there is constant exchange of fire between the security forces and valley based revolutionary outfits in Churachandpur, Chandel and other areas.

Who will really tackle the problem? True, the Government of India, from the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Governor, Generals down to the Chief Minister have appealed to the insurgents for a dialogue with the revolutionary outfits. This is a part of the national policy. The nine-year old ceasefire between the Government of India and NSCN(IM) still continues and political dialogue is going on.

I am particularly happy to note the appeal made by the Governor of Manipur Dr. S.S Sidhu has been responded by a militant outfit. The current debate on plebiscite to decide on the future of India - Manipur relation has thrown up the good points and demerits of Manipur’s position in the Indian Union.

It is significant that women participated in these debates. The people of Manipur, particularly, the Meitei’s of Manipur are highly educated and talented people. They know where lies their future. They have to examine, dissect and understand the basic question of insurgency. They will decide their own future.

Contradictory political objectives

It is painful but true that there are contradictory political objectives of the various ethnic militant gro-ups. The Naga militant ou-tfit, while demanding sovereignty have raised the unification of Naga ethnic territories into a single political homeland to be na-med Nagalim.

The Kukis, Zomis and other outfits demanded their own separate homeland (perhaps within India). And the valley based (now spread to the hills also) have raised various demands ranging from the revival of the ancient Kangleipak to the reassertion of the independence of ancient State of Manipur based on different ideologies. This hiatus or lack of convergence of the objectives have further complicated the problem of insurgency.

The Nagas of Manipur have more or less welcome the informal ceasefire or the defacto suspension of operations in the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur Hills. The various civil society organizations including various tribal women organizations have pressurised on the Government and the insurgents to keep the peace.

The Kuki civil societies, like the Kuki Mothers Association have done a yoe-man’s service to remove the sense of violence and conflict between the insurgents and the public. Their work is commendable.

The emergence of the brave Meira paibis, the women torch bearers, in Manipur is a revolutionary phenomenon.

Their struggle has been acknowledged as a unique Human Rights activity throughout the world. Their fight against the violation of Human Rights by the Indian Security Forces and Manipur Police, the climax of which was the agitation against the rape and murder of Th. Manorama against the misuse of Armed Forces Special Power Act by the Assam Riffles inspired thousands of human rights activists throughout the nation.

The classic hunger strike of Kumari Irom Sharmila for more than four years is the greatest symbol of people’s fight for civil liberty and dignity of man.

Rise of Manipuri women

I pay tribute to the achievement attained by the Manipuri women in different walks of life. The rise of the Manipuri women is the greatest social fabric of Manipur. Their traditional role of housewife and bread earner as a helping partner of the husband has undergone a great change. The basic love for freedom and their inborn mother’s psyche to protect their husband, brother and children has been enlarged with the attainment of modern education.

The Manipuri wom-en, particularly the Meitei women are not only educa-ted but socially aware and economically independent. There grew up among them, professionals, teachers in college and Universities, doctors, lawyers and judges, writers, artis-tes and journalists Forerunners among them are the sports persons Kunja-rani, Mary Kom and many others.

The rise of women in Manipur has naturally led to empowerment of wom-en, both social and political. They are now mentally, intellectually and morally equipped to tackle the problem of state terrorism, violence and conflict between the State and insurgents.

Need for peace movement

The simple but painful truth which every right thinking man and women must realize is that insurgency and counter insurgency are the cause of all the violation of human rights of the citizens. If there is peace the problem will disappear. But peace cannot be created that easily. If there is a will, there is way. The people of Manipur want peace.

The common man does not like violence. He wants peace and peaceful life. If we want peace, we have to express our desire for peace. True, there is definitely a constraint on this expression of desire for peace. Love for peace is a kind of human right. We have to exercise this right to peace.

The common man does not like violence. He wants peace and peaceful life. If we want peace, we have to express our desire for peace. True, there is definitely a constraint on this expression of desire for peace. Love for peace is a kind of human right. We have to exercise this right to peace.

As stated above, in the hills, the womenfolk have been in the forefront of the movement for maintenance of peace between the security forces and insurgents and amongst the insurgents. In the valley, there is a strong movement for human rights. But strong emphasis is not given to the aspect of having peace. There are several forums like the Senior Citizens Forum and some political parties who talk of peace and dialogue for peaceful settlement.

I am proposing that our mothers, the respected Meira Paibis should utilize their energy and influence, should speak out both to the Government of India and the insurgency outfits that the people of Manipur want peace and that they start the dialogue for a peaceful settlement. The efforts made by a distinguished writer and intellectual Professor Indrani Goswami to bring about an understanding for a negotiation between the Government of India and ULFA is a very encouraging development in North East.

I am hopefull, this seminar would discuss the ways and means to take up the initiative by our mothers to bring about peace in our troubled land. Therefore, the seminar on this important theme is most timely and will be fruitful. I am sure, our women intellectuals, and woman right activist and other civil society leaders should put their heads together work for a lasting peace in our land.

(This is the Keynote Address of the author in the Workshop on Role of Women in Peace Initiative in Manipur organised by the OK Das Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati and American Centre, Kolk-ata at Imphal on Mar 24.)