The sound & the silence
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: December 12, 2013 -

Yes, yet another annual 'ritual' observance of International Human Rights Day to commemorate adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December in 1948 has passed with everyone denouncing prolonged imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur as the Act is said to have taken away the basic democratic rights and freedom of the people.

Yes, of course, it is a well-known fact how the people of Manipur have been living under the shadow of the Army Act, which was enacted by the Indian Parliament purportedly to tackle the problem of Naga insurgency on September 11, 1958, before the entire Northeast region including Manipur was brought under its grip gradually.

It is also equally true that with numerous incidents of arbitrary arrests and killings, fake encounters, forced disappearances, rape and torture, massacres, etc, becoming a part of their daily existence in a democratic country, people of Manipur have been demanding repeal of the Act which not only gives sweeping power to the personnel of Armed Forces but also grant virtual immunity from prosecution against their any act of commission and omission in ''Disturbed areas'' for the last many years while Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on a fast unto death stir for the last 14 years now over the same demand without no one listening.

But all these years, what the people of Manipur have been hearing on the occasion of observing International Human Rights Day every year is the same slamming talk against AFSPA and nothing more or much.

But what was really surprising in the cacophonies of all these endless talks and more talks against AFSPA this time was the complete silence of all the great talkers, anti-AFSPA campaigners and groups in Manipur to have at least a say or make a comment on the recent statement made by Arun Kumar, the National Executive Member of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), against the demand for repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur until militancy is completely wiped out from the two States.

Talking to media persons at Silchar, Arun Kumar, who is also said to be the Director of Jammu and Kashmir Study Centre, was quoted to have said, "As far as the situation in Manipur is concerned, the presence of the Army is necessary for the sake of security of common people. Manipur needs Army until militants are neutralised."

This remark that came out from the mouth of a top leader of the Sangh Parivar, whose political wing in the State has been harping on removal of the Army Act from Manipur if it comes to power, shows complete lack of understanding on the political nature of the problem of insurgency in the State which has only multiplied after the Act come into force.

Yet, with exception to the reaction from an almost nondescript organisation which goes by the name of Khundrakpam Kendra Youths' Organisation (KHUKYO), none of the anti-AFSPA groups and great talkers in Manipur has said anything to such a damning remark.

This was really intriguing.

This indicates that it is not so much about the insistence of the Army authorities for continuation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur that has led to untold suffering of the people, but lack of commitment on the part of so-called public leaders and intellectuals in the State that the made the much despised Army Act to find a firm foothold in every social ethos of Manipur with every successive Government extending the Disturbed Area status for continuation of the Act year after year with not even a whimper of protest from any quarters. Period.