The Trouble Continues

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tudents and Teachers Mass Rally at Kangpokpi for Sadar Hills District creation :: October 14 2011
Picture Credit :: Kamboi Chongloi

It is irrelevant to count the number of days the state of Manipur is under the economic blockade. In this long saga of blockade different actors have contributed in sustaining the problem rather than finding a solution to the long standing issue. The present phase of blockade had its origin in the demand made by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC).

After setting a record of short for being able to hold the state as ransom through economic blockade for the longest number of days, a ray of hope for a solution was provided by the signing of an understanding between the government and the SHDDC on the mindnight ( Link here and here , )of October 31, 2011.

Consequent to the understanding the economic blockade was lifted. However, the day following to the signing of the truce United Naga Council term the understanding as a 'divisive scheme to incite communal conflicts' and opposed the truce and called a three day total bandh this is in addition to the already imposed economic blockade against the formation of Sadar Hills District from August 21.

Thus the story of blockade and the suffering cause to the citizens of Manipur continues till today. Taking not of the events as it folded the state has been categorised as a 'failed state' , though controversial in the use of the concept, but reflects some truths on the failure of the government in addressing the issues of governance.

It has also been pointed out that the tendency to 'fit ethnic identity perfectly on to a particular territory can create combustible mix' . This intermixing is the fact of the present day crisis in Manipur where the government of Manipur has been reduced to a communal government and refers the Chief Minister as 'communal Chief Minister' .

Simultaneously, the anti Sadar Hill District protest is also being used by the UNC as a spring broad to raise the pitch for the demand of the 'alternative administrative arrangement for the Naga's from the Government of Manipur' .

Within all these events, unfortunately, the people have lost an opportunity to reflect back on the political issue that is affecting the lives of the people of the state for more six decade in the form of Armed Forces Special Power Act. 1958, (AFSPA).

The anti ASPA movement that is symbolised by the hunger strike of Irom Sharma that has completed 11 years of fast has been reduced to any other event . It is a tragedy for the society and speaks volumes of the level of political consciousness of the people of Manipur.

Further, the issues of governance like proper availability of drinking water, electricity, transport have been obscured in the celebration of completion of modern infrastructures without proper interrogation in the name of development. Classic example is the noise that is being generated for the completion of new state assembly.

Accepted, the state may require a new state assembly, but is it pertinent to be constructed on the already congested Greater Imphal area over the one of the natural wet land. There has been a systemic effort from the government to use up all the natural water bodies that have played an important role in the sustenance of eco system.

This is in contrast to the developments happenings in other parts of the world. In these socially developed societies the government and the people made a conscious effort not to disturbed the natural water bodies and promote greenery. On the other hand, the elected leaders and the people of Manipur are running after any visible land to be used up.

Even further, what do we have to say of elected leaders when 'large swathes of Keibul Lamjao National Park have been allotted to 14 private individuals by the SPF Government' .

Also, the information being brought out by citizen and leikai club against an elected leader of the constituency for financial irregularities in the developmental works of the constituency from the Local Area Development Fund is a pointer to the self-serving interest over ring the needs of the citizens . This throws up the question is the present government only interested serving their self-interest and do not have any vision for the state, people and history?

Of history, it has to be accepted that the SPF government has done a commendable task of creating history rather than preserving it. The state has seen the construction of an overbridged in front and over historical monument. New big market place has been constructed that has created an exclusionary market place between daily vegetable vendor that have access to the new structure and those that cannot.

This act of government has destroyed the egalitarian nature of the old ema market where, inspite of its own problem, daily wage earners have some space. Thanks, to the development model of the government the structure has become one of the tools for promoting exclusion in Manipur society. Continuing its process of history making, the government have decided to make a Lotak Lake without 'floating houses' .

It seems the government and advisors of the government have forgotten that Loktak Lake is constitute of the floating house, thanga hill, the floating home of Sangai and the Sangai itself.

Consequently, the action of the government has at one level destroyed a history of the lake, second, caused immense hardship to a group of people that are living under extreme poverty and made the citizens to become a refuge in its own state . However, it is no wonder, as usual, the action of the government is justified on the basis of an Act. 'The Loktak Protection Act. 2006'.

Unfortunately in Manipur no body including the opposition members and parties in the assembly raised the point that the act is a constructed one, enacted by the Assembly. If the livelihood issue of these people are not addressed, that is an important component of Loktak, the provision of the Act needs to be change. Looking in all the events and the developments that is taking place in Manipur during the last ten years gives the impression that every Manipuri has contributed in the rise of a fascist society.