Sadar Hills: Faultline may rest on ethnic lines
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, August 12 2011:
With the impasse over the demand for conversion of Sadar Hills into a full fledged district by bifurcating the existing Senapati district continuing, the fault line is increasingly becoming ethnicized.
Although no fresh violence has been reported from the embattled Sadar Hills area since yesterday, twelfth day since the beginning of the agitation by SHDDC that has completely paralyzed National Highways 39 and 53, the lull is considered as an uneasy clam before a gathering storm.
It is worth noting that the economic blockade that was imposed by SHDDC beginning midnight of July 31 tentatively for seven days quickly turned into an indefinite bandh following the death of three women in a blockade related incident.
A highly placed source informed Newmai News Network today that the SHDDC has been aggressively mobilizing supports from Chandel and Churachandpur districts headquarters since yesterday in its attempt to start democratic mass movements.
The source however stopped short of spelling out the nature of the anticipated agitation.
On the other hand, the Nagas under the aegis of United Naga Council (UNC) is also reportedly gearing up for an agitation in the coming days.
The Nagas have been steadfastly opposing the bifurcation of the existing Senapati district to create a separate district.
According to reliable sources, the UNC is likely to initiate a vigorous support-campaign in Naga areas in a day or two against the bifurcation of Senapati district to create Sadar Hills district.
The sources added that the Nagas will most likely to resort to mass public rallies across all Naga areas in Manipur.
Significantly, hectic parleys between the state government and the striking party on two occasions have failed to break the logjam, pushing the tension to a flashpoint.
Even as the agitation persists, the people of the state are reeling under a sharp price rise of all essential commodities.
The prices of commodities have escalated to about 30 percent in the past few days, generating panic across the state.
The state government, a few days ago, gave a stern ultimatum to the agitating party to lift the blockade on both the highways before August 15 or face a stiff crackdown by security forces.
The no-nonsense approach of the Ibobi led government has time and again been giving out messages that it will not be cowed down by agitators trying to have their way without regard to public propriety and lives.