To hell and never to come back
(A wrong step compels for more similar steps)

Kambam Ibohal Singh *

The November 30th 2009 being the last day of the Disturbed Area Act (DAA) in Manipur, the State Cabinet approved the extension of the Act for another year starting from the 1st Dec 2009 and along with this the State Government once again continued operation of the draconian Act, the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) 1958 in all parts of the State excluding the seven segments of greater Imphal. The home department issued an official notification in this regard in view of the present prevailing law and order situation of the State as per the Government.

The extension of DAA and AFSPA is not welcome by the people of Manipur since the people and Several Civil organisations are dead against the Act for the bitter experiences they had in the past events. The rape and murder of Th Manorama by the Security forces under AFSPA is still fresh in the mind of every one and the follow up naked protest by 12 (Twelve) woman in front of the west gate of Kangla created a world record in the history of human society.

The forced disappearance of Bijoy Kumar, Sanamacha and many others after arrest by the security forces under AFSPA is a mystery and till date their whereabouts are untraced. Only those who picked them up can locate their graves.

Justice P Upendra commission reports submitted quite some years back are lying under the Carpet of the Government till date. Once the Justice expressed anguish over the report lying inaction. The self molestation of Pebam Chitraranjan in the main street of Bishnupur Bazar was the most thrilling incident inspiring the people to protest against the AFSPA, the inherited Act from the imperial British Rulers. It talked of the security forces being guided by AFSPA and it is not something like amnesty to them.

No one is spared if the forces do something wrong behind the Act (AFSPA). But the security forces involved in the gross mistake committed in the past events (as related) are still spared and unpunished.

The past incidents of Heirangkhoi Thong, RIMS gate and Malom, in which a number of common innocent people were massacred, pressed to protest against AFSPA demanding the repeal of the Act and the protest reached its culmination when a tender lady of a middle class family started 'fast unto death' protesting against the AFSPA for more than nine years.

The lady is still in tears for those who lost their lives in the indiscriminate firing of the security forces. Her sacrifice for others and renunciation of all worldly pleasure and happiness at the cost of her prime of life are the most brilliant ideal inculcating morale to all against the Cruel Act. Significantly she followed the path of non-violence to fight violence and anarchy as a means to her success winning the heart of all peace loving mothers and sisters and also of all kind hearted brothers of different communities.

The popularly known as "Iron lady" is none other than Irom Chanu Sharmila, the South Korean Gwangju awardee, honoured with the title "Present Freedom Fighter" by the Karnataka based civil societies, bestowed Mayilama award 2009 by Kerala based Mayilama Foundation and very recently selected "the 4th woman of the decade" by the Malayalam daily perhaps for the 1st time from the NE Deepti Priya Mehrotra's book "Burning Bright—Irom Sharmila and struggle for peace in Manipur" is a living example of her relentless effort to resist violation of human right by AFSPA-1958 humiliating and wounding the whole Manipur society. Sharmila's nonviolent torch though the tiniest would be burning brighter to show the path of love and peace in this violence-prone dark world.

The Armed Forces (Special Power) Act 1958 is operative in Manipur to keep law and order undisturbed and maintain peace in the Hills and Plain areas amidst insurgency. There are numerous insurgent groups ever more than the numbers of 36 communities present in the State. But with different ethnic entity their goal and destination are not one to articulate publicly their common agenda under one banner on a common platform.

If sovereignty, independence from Indian Union and to attain the old glories is the common goal, all insurgent groups could unite under one unified command to fight the common enemy. But so far no such idea is realised to achieve full public support for the common destination. To fight single handed is nothing but to multiply number of widows, orphans and suffering amongst the inmates of the State contrary to the desired result.

The UNO-sponsored Copenhagen submits on climate change failed to bring a respectable solution on contributions proportionate to the Carbon emission of those member countries. The summit was as important as it was dealing with the question of life and death of all living beings in the context of the growing scarcity of fresh air for the whole universe. The world is fully aware of the eminence of Green House effect and melting of glacier.

The UNO could not do anything on this grave crisis because the constituent leading countries are self interested and do nothing without benefit for their countries. In the circumstances can we rely on UNO for our goal of independence? Would UNO enforce plebiscite for the tiny state to endorse independence? On the other hand would Government of India so easily accept a referendum sponsored by the UNO? All this may not be interpreted as discouraging notes but as a factual reality for introspection and as eye opener for the realisable or unrealisable dreams.

It was made a show of the merger agreement signed between the Government of India and the then King Budha Chandra Maharaj as assertion at gun point; but it was a notion. The people of Manipur realise that the king and his advisers were not honestly sincere enough to surrender the facilities and other monetary benefits offered by the Government of India in lieu of the kingship and kingdom.

Similarly, the legislatures of Manipur Assembly were self interested and preferred the Indian National Congress for their profitable post and higher status except some legislatured like Dr Leiren, a member of the Assembly who is not remembered by anybody even today. Could the king sacrifice his life for the people of Manipur or could he remain behind the bar for the justified cause, he would have been worshiped and remembered? But it was not done! The State is burning in repentance hard to extinguish. That was a blunder of elders. "A wrong step compels for more similar steps. The present wrong steps are being left for the future generation?

The role played in bringing quality education in the State by one of the rebel groups is laudable and deserve all credits. Many more helps to remove the social evils and dirt are expected from all underground outfits. Corruption involves money; and all forms of social evils are related to earning easy money without much labour. That needs a change.

The present internal conflict between the underground outfits and the underground outfits' relationship with the public are disappointing much more than that we suffer from the conflict between the Government of India and the Rebels. The historic Heirok event is still remembered as glaring example of bitter relationship. The people and communities of Manipur distanced themselves from one another.

Dr Kamal's garland (Lei Pareng), an imaginative garland of all Colorful communities is broken and scattered all around. Kabi Kh Chaoba appealed to the visitors to go out of Imphal City to enjoy the natural beauty of Manipur with green and golden fields and the lofty hills around of rich resources and the inhabitants of great hospitality.

Now Manipur is no longer attractive for outside visitors and even the indigenous people are reluctant to have a visit of other communities' areas due to lawlessness and thus tourism has been an unrealisable dream and a farce. In this uncertain circumstances of agonies and gory on everyday basis can anybody expect safe return on their life's mission. To advance in this conflict situation is "To hell and never to come back" for all of us.

The senior citizens' offer as a mediator for unconditional talk of insurgent groups and Government of India was immediately turned down and threatened. As yet the senior citizens' forum is not a popular body with executive members and constitution to display their activities and serious tasks for dealing with the burning problems. To take credit and profitable shares for services rendered could not be the motto of senior citizens. Senior should be senior in all respect.

Maturity only in age without maturity in thought and sense could not be the senior citizens. They are just playing with fire without consulting the research scholars, think tanks including other experts and specially the leaders of each and every rebel groups to bring a respectable solution to the insurgency and other law and order issue.

The senior citizens should accept the view that "if Government of India recognises the unique history and situation of Nagas, why cannot the same Government recognise distinctiveness of historical and political realities of Manipur" (Sanatomba Kangujam).

The senior citizens should first recognise the ground realities of the problem with hard home work to overcome the challenges without absorbing into corruption and taking advantages of the present political imbroglio. The task may not be an easy one; but only consistent effort and determination may show the path to success.

The need of the hour is a fine and selfless gentleman or lady from any of the communities but not a scavenger. He/She should be guided by self sacrifice, consistency, courage and determination to work for a change and remove all the political dirt, social evils and other disparity with an eye on the welfare and development of all citizens of the State with justice to all.