Thank you SMS's and split mandate
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 25 , 2014 -

Mr Deputy Chief Minister is having a hard time trying to read all the SMS's sent by denizens of Ukhrul district. These short electronic messages are words of appreciation something like 'Thank You' or 'We are grateful to you'.

According to Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, the State Government is receiving lots of accolades from the people of hill districts, particularly Ukhrul district for deploying additional security forces there.

Gaikhangam was speaking at a concluding function of a sensitisation programme on human rights of indigenous people held at Manipur University on August 23.

While observing that NSCN-IM has been committing various crimes apart from keeping many of the hill districts under their grip as if the rebel organisation is a government in itself, Gaikhangam indirectly suggested that security forces have been deployed in Ukhrul district headquarters to deal with unlawful elements and thwart off their subversive activities.

This very statement of the Deputy Chief Minister implied that the State Government knew all along that NSCN-IM was operating on the soil of Manipur even though the official version of the cease fire agreement between NSCN-IM and the Government of India is restricted to the State of Nagaland.

Reading the situation in totality revealed a multi-layered character of the cease fire agreement.

When the State Government knows that NSCN-IM cadres are operating in Manipur, sure enough army and central paramilitary forces deployed in Manipur would be knowing that NSCN-IM is quite active in Manipur.

But all these years, there were hardly any crackdown or confrontation between central paramilitary forces and NSCN-IM cadres, perhaps with the exception of the siege of Siroy in 2009.

That is why we are saying that the cease fire agreement is multi-layered. The cease fire agreement is de facto applicable everywhere between the two parties.

But when a third party (sic State Government) comes in the picture, the cease fire agreement is given a totally different interpretation.

Multi-dimensional interpretations of the cease fire agreement as dictated by the Government of India is partially responsible for the violent conflicts and tense stand-offs seen in different parts of the North East region including the recent violent clash on Assam-Nagaland border as well as the simmering tension at Ukhrul district headquarters.

Another point made by the Deputy Chief Minister which merits serious analysis and introspection was the assertion “Those who are raising their voices against the move (deployment of security forces in Ukhrul) are the frontal organisations of NSCN-IM and bodies like ANSAM and UNC”.

What one can derive from this particular statement is that all the hue and cry raised against deployment of security forces are politically motivated, and not genuine.

Frontal organisations or not, many people, if not the whole populace of Ukhrul, have been protesting. There have been bandhs, shut-downs, prayer sessions, public curfew etc.

Whereas the Deputy Chief Minister was abruptly dismissing all the voices of grievances as a political manoeuvre directed by some elements, the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights was seeking intervention of the Government of India.

At the same time, public protest against deployment of security forces and prohibitory orders clamped under Section 144 CrPC goes unabated.

We are not doubting the hordes of 'Thank You' SMS's received by the Deputy Chief Minister. Still, the State Government needs to acknowledge that some sections of people have serious grievances against its ground breaking move. It is not advisable to reduce the common people to the status of proverbial grass in the battle of elephants.

Juxtaposition of the arguments and counter-arguments suggest that neither the State Government nor the frontal organisations enjoy absolute mandate of the people.

In another word, people's mandate is split between the Government and the so called frontal organisations.

Whatever is the case, people would never appreciate promulgation of Section 144 CrPC for such a long period.