Why We Say No To Muivah

Athoupa Mangang *

Muivah's proposed home visit after almost four decades is quiet dubious in nature. As history stands as witness, better sense always prevails on the people of Manipur and also its representatives the SPF government. We are keen to maintain communal harmony and peaceful co-existence and this has been our top priority.

Manipur Government never had the intention to bar Muivah from his home coming. But the larger question that has emerged is his amount of sincerity to his proposed visit. Had he ever approached in the right spirit his homecoming would have been felicitated with a rousing welcome. Yes .. Chidambaram the union Home Minister of India granted Muivah to visit his native village in Manipur and public meetings to be addressed.

Muivah's demand to carve out a major chunk of Manipur in his pursuit to form a greater Nagaland had been his main agenda and this has been opposed by the people of Manipur to the teeth. This may be pertinent to note that the then NDA Government entered into a formal ceasefire agreement with NSCN in 1997 where it was declared that the NSCN ceasefire would be extended without territorial limit.

In the aftermath of this infamous declaration a public uprising erupted. An irate mob in Manipur burnt down the Assembly House including properties worth cores and some 18 people lost their precious lives. This was one of the worst parts in the modern history of Manipur. The three worded phrase "without territorial limit" was a sinister design to break Manipur. This hidden agenda is known to all.

In the last four decades Muivah had not visited his home village. Manipur Government is hectically engaging in the Autonomous District Council Election which aims to safeguard the right of the people in the hills. However gun totting elements of the NSCN-IM who have been enjoying a lion share of the funds meant for the general public vehemently opposed to the Samaritan job of the Government.

Naga frontal organizations of NSCN IM, namely UNC United Naga Council and All Naga Students Association etc. in Manipur have been imposing indefinite economic blockade at the behest of Muivah to thwart the process of ADC Election. Manipur Government in the true spirit of the people's Government cannot afford to remain a mute spectator when the genuine rights of people have been deprived and benefits meant for the public are being siphoned off by some coterie of thugs to meet their selfish end.

Coincidentally Muivah is visiting his home town at this point of time. As per the schedule circulated from MHA it was clearly indicated that Muivah would address meetings at different hill districts in Manipur. We all know that this is nothing but the infamous proclamation of Greater Nagaland. Otherwise Why this sudden homesickness.. is a question to everybody's lip.

Manipur was a sovereign country which has a pride 2000 year's old history. If one refers "The Modern History of Manipur" authored by Lal Dena and "Manipur Past and Present" volume I to IV edited by Naoren Sanajaoba, one will be able to discover briefly the factual fact of the erstwhile Kingdom of Manipur. In the fluctuate fortune between Myanmar and Manipur, a part of history has been created known as " Seven years devastation".

When Manipur force retaliated the Burmese were compelled to flee Manipur. Manipur forces drove them away up to the embankment of Chin Wind river. Parts of the Saigang division in the present Myanmar and land that stretched as far as to the embankment of the Chin Win River was formally within the boundary of Manipur. Then came the Yandaboo treaty, in order to appease Burma Kabaw valley was transferred to Myanmar and Ukhrul and Chandel stood testimony to that witnessing the painful slice of her land and people to serve the interest of the political masters.

Manipur has reduced to a small state now. Manipur, no doubt offers for everyone needs but not for their greed. Manipur passed through innumerable ordeals during the past two millennia of its history. No other catastrophe had ever threatened the survival of the Manipuri nationality throughout the ages than the Burmese devastations of Manipur since 1756 to 1826.

We are not preparing for anything untoward now for we have survived through the blood and fire. We have had enough and we cannot succumb to any pressure at present. Not an inch of land will be parted from the existing boundary of Manipur. We are indigenous people but not necessarily that the land and people will be part of the Muivah's much fantasized concept the so called Greater Nagaland. Manipuri connotes all the native people living lawfully in Manipur and Manipuris are geographical expression.

The following is the text extract from the proclamation of Maharaja Bodhachandra on October 18, 1948 during the inauguration of the First Manipur State Assembly.

"All these times when Manipur was in the height of power, Hill and Valley was one; and this oneness defended Manipur against all invasions and thus, she could maintain her independence up to 1891, when the rest of India had already been conquered by the British. British conquest of this land resulted from the slackened unity between the Valley and Hills.

Now since the withdrawal of British Paramountcy after 56 years rule, we have reinforced the union of Hill and Valley; the best opportunities have reached us in order to work hand in hand towards achieving the common object of progress and national prosperity. The relation has become one of complete understanding and active sympathy; it must be so, for Manipur is one and the hopes and aspirations of Hill and Valley are identical."

"Read her history from 24 A.D. She had her dominion over a wide area extending as far as the southern portion of China in the North, the gold mines in the Sibsagar valley, the river Chindwin in the East and south, and Chandarpore (Cachar) in the West. Her present area is 8,650 square miles plus 7,000 square miles of Kabaw Valley, including 7,900 square miles of the hills. ......

Read the treaty of Yandaboo, dated the 9* January 1834 ratified between Maharaja Gambhir Singh and the Company. The treaty left us a good heritage, namely the Kabaw valley of 7,000 square miles for which we now get from Burma Rs. 6,270 as annual tribute which according to the spirits of the terms of the Agreement will cease when the area is reverted to our State".