A Reverting Act of Violence :: Sadar Hills - Part 1

Lukhendro Keisham *

The faster we solve, faster the growth of peace and progress. Resolve Sadar Hill's issue as soon as possible for it threatens the peace and progress of the state. Not only will it lead to communal riots but political and administrative chaos. As the state's legislative assembly election nears more fishy smells the valleys and the hills.

Four decades of violenc and patience the Sadar Hills are. From the passing of the 1971's Manipur District Council Act for the establishment of Autonomous District Council in the hill areas in the then Union Territory of Manipur to 2011's ongoing economic blockade by the SHDDC demanding the official announcement of Sadar Hills District the people of Manipur had been both emotional and anguish.

All these for a mere difference of thought between two brothers who has been living since ages before British or any Naga-Kuki began. Leading to one of the most brutal conflict in the history of Manipur the Sadar Hills issue still greets the people of Manipur with bandh, blockade, frontal warriors etc. In their war of communalism it is the whole people of the state who suffer. This 2011's economic blockade in the National Highways of the state is the reverting act of the unfinished past which left the families of the hill in pain and sorrow. The scream of the souls of death and injured can still be hard in the hearts of the Manipuri in the hills.

Those brutal hill fires, hanging in the trees, chopping off hands and legs, nailing on the heads and body, cut throat, burying alive, slaughtering into pieces and left to die in the jungle with arms and legs tied are the images the people of the hills had seen. Wish that such heartless acts of murder and massacre don't repeat again. How would we feel when our houses are burnt down to ashes? Not only one but both sides met the same fate.

No one stood against Anna Hazare and his demands. All because he was right and hit the ball for the winning side only. It was a game with no opponents to oppose, everyone knows it well. As right as no political group appreciates any other no matter how good and better their conduct is for the people. Not only India but the whole world will stand for Anna if he fasted against world corruption even though. Like throwing stone on the wall, it hits the wall without a miss.

And so does this world is, the wind will always blow where it supposed to be. Who and what was Anna before his historical fast? But had he fasted for the world he will lose and win in his own way alone. This is how the world goes.

Right that the SHDDC's demand for a separate district for the people of Sadar Hills as a full fledge revenue district is compelling and reasonable. On the other hand various obstacles of boundary, community and political conditions hover around the implementation of the demand. So sensitive the Sadar Hills issue is that if any flaw arises on any sides the rest are on fire to trigger violence and chaos.

The July rain always bring drought in Manipur. This time it’s the reverted tail of the Sadar Hills. So frequently it happens in this state that the people of the state had fallen in love to adjust under such circumstances. Though we dislikes we manages it. Our way of complaining without any complains or moves.

The Government of India passed the Hill Areas District Council Act in 1971. Manipur attained its statehood under the Republic of India in 1972 but the District Council Act remains ineffective in Sadar Hills till date. Except Sadar Hills the other five Autonomous District Councils namely Manipur North ADC (Senapati ADC), Manipur East ADC (Ukhrul ADC), Tengnoupal ADC (Chandel ADC), Manipur South ADC (Churachandpur ADC) and Manipur West ADC (Tamenglong ADC) has become full-fledged districts. Chief Ministers Rishang Keishing, R.K Ranbir Singh, W. Nipamacha Singh or the Central Government did tried to implement the Hill Areas District Council Act 1971 in Sadar Hills but failed till date.

Right that Sadar Hills has more than a lakh voter and the highest ranked among the district opting areas of Manipur. But instead of various promises to inaugurate Sadar Hills as a full fledge revenue district, 54 villages under the Sadar Hills were bifurcated to other assembly constituencies. Though ignored the people associated with the Sadar Hills want the government, state and central to stop the re-mappings of the Sadar Hills.

This is neither fooling nor politics but reality that the Sadar Hills issue is a Naga-Kuki issue and can be simply be commented or decided. Whether 1971 or 2011, the issue remains the same and this in order to balance the rights of both Kuki and Naga.

Bandh, blockade, general strikes and hunger strike has become a joke in the democracy of Manipur. May it be bandh, blockade or general strikes the common people only suffer. Hunger strikes are plenty but no one dies of it. Conspiracy lies in the unseen. Stand on the darker side and you will be less seen. Most of the truth remains unseen.

Good that the whole tribes of the state are uniting together as the Nagas and the Kukis. Nobody talked about Naga and Kuki when we were kids. But then suddenly it all happened bringing forward its mid historical diversification of the brotherhood of Nagas and Kukis which never was the beginning of Naga and Kuki.

The other comprises of the Meiteis and Meitei Pangal. This may be the beginning of the unification but at the same time the beginning of the preparation of a future war of communalism among various communities living in the state.

Where are the intellects of both the communities on the intellectuals of peace and equality between both the communities?

It’s an unproven fact that Sadar Hills is ethnical. What guarantees them to guarantee for the future peace and chaos when their war is won? Nothing. The intellects know these very well but remain unknown for it questions their leadership.

The government is doing very little to nothing. But don't mistake that the government is silent searching for his game and priorities but for the peace and safety of the people of various communities. Our act of one sided protestism and social show off is costing millions to the government and the state.

Unaware of what we are we have changed from a peaceful, esteemed, cultured and responsible citizen of the world to a self destructive creature in human mask. Leave the world affairs for a moment and use this moment to think for Sadar Hills. To authenticate the demand of the SHDDC without disappointing the various groups involved.

Every community credits the merits and demerits of its conduct to the state's affairs, politically and economically. Freedom to settle anywhere for the hills and only valley for the valleys. 50% or less cut off for SC/ST, 60% for General and the people still demands for quality doctors and professionals. Decades passed since the government of India graded SC, ST, and OBC. In this long years some may have already live up to the status of the higher group.

But what can man be, they prefer to better remain timid and gain the wealthy reserves they benefit from calling them as SC or ST. The 50 gets through, the 59 commits suicide and no one responsible the death. No hurt feelings to any but every side is guilty, amateur or professionals. Our lives are not borrowed to repay back to anyone but use this one time opportunity responsibly for we are not the only individual living in this world, this country, state and the locality.

We have had some very appealing suggestions from various individuals and groups for a sooner and better derivatives to end the prevailing issues. Fast or slow Manipur has changed a lot since 40 years. If the Sadar Hills district is reasonable then why is the government doing very little or nothing? Are they really interested?

The situation is very fragile and things can take any form with worse being the most expected. Mr. P Chidambaram, the Hon'ble Finance Minister of India in a live T.V interview told the reporter on the 30th of September, 2011 that unlike Chattisgarh and U.P where more than ten districts were curved out recently district creation in the North Eastern regions of India is a sensitive issue compared to other states of the country due to the various oppositions by the various communities specially the tribal.

He told that the Kukis demanded the formation of the Sadar Hills district and the Nagas opposing it. Due to its style of problem the issue has to be resolved in the local level and told that the Chief Minister (Okram Ibobi Singh) of Manipur has set up a commission to look into the formation of the Sadar Hills and is waiting for it report.

About the economic blockade Mr. Chidambaram said that more than a thousand trucks laden with essential commodities have been bringing in goods inside the state with security personals to meet the essential needs of the people of Manipur. And the price rise as an effect to the circumstances. Not that the government isn't listening but doing the best they could balancing every sides to take control of the situation.

Everyone blames the government though they understand the circumstances. All on the run to raise a voice, to oppose as they please and escape on the sight of any trouble. Every day in the early morning, as the news paper arrive you go through the headlines hoping if the blockade was call off. But instead another layer called Jiribam, UNC and counter blockade thickens up the blanket of unsolved issues.

Robbing a bank needs the same precision as to architect the locker to be thief proof. One does it with risk and the other task. But how risky you do the world wants fair and not evil practice.

The emotion of the common people is mixed with anger and sorrow at the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee's act of protestism. Millions of wealth and money is being destroyed in this so called economic blockade. In a state whose economy and infrastructural development depends hugely on the Central Government's fund and sanctions such wastage of wealth and property is a big blow to the state's economic growth and developments.

It has become a trend for the hills of Manipur to step up with economic blockade whenever a demand, big or small is not met by the government neglecting the various communities who has no meaning to their demands. No parents can fulfill each and every demand their children make. Never to forget that Manipur is a state were various community lives together.

Burning down goods laden trucks including health and life saving drugs is a total practice of layman's act. The SHDDC broke their own promise by burning down two goods carrier trucks laden with medicines and life saving drugs worth lakhs of rupee. If the government commits such crimes the outcomes is unthinkable. This proves that SHDDC has no call of duty.

The Sadar Hills activist does never complain of any shortage. Tamenglong felt short of essential commodities because it’s the Kuki's blockade. Kangpokpi, Churachandpur or Moreh has no any complains. It’s a fact that Moreh, Tengnoupal, Chandel and its highway is powered by goods imported from Myanmar.

Senapati and Mao have free passes to Nagaland with no trace of any Sadar Hills agitators. Churachandpur has free passage from Mizoram. Kangpokpi, the command centre of the Sadar Hills agitation has no any resistance from the valley and the likes, not even a slightest sign of any shortage. Businessmen in Senapati, Mao or Maram if it profits them have unlimited goods for Kangpokpi. The innocent people of the valley are the one who only burns.

The government and its ministry has its safety stocks and facilities, none has any effect of the blockade. It will be their culture, district and lifestyle not for the rest of the districts, hills and valley. This is not a fair practice and the attack an ethical one.

Both the hills and the valley suffer from this economic blockade. But no matter how long the blockade is if you can pay you get anything you want. Petrol, diesel, cooking gas, or vegetable it doesn't run out of stock but just a monopolistic game by the businessman.

Even a kid comes out on the highway and robs the passenger for pocket money. He may not get two meals a day but sure does have a gun in his house, weather licensed or not. To become a leader and stand against the government gives them the score which he could not gain in his lifetime of endless patronage.

Only the common people suffer on the other side of the coin. If government is the one whom they target then they would have gone through a different process. Neglecting or forgetting all the equality bestowed to the people of the hills and the state they are designing a new order of violence and riot. The government has nothing to lose but us.

The frequent blockades in the national highways have a direct effect on the development projects of the state. The circumstances are getting worse day by day. If both the government and the agitator don’t come up with possible solution it may lead to a possible clash between the agitators and the various groups of people residing in the other parts of the state.

The old days are going to return if the issue is not resolved. I, as a common citizen living in the state send out this message that we the people of Manipur are the only people who can bring peace to the land. Let's help resolve every issue as fast as possible for a faster growth without leaving a tail for a future violence or differences.

Peace in the state should be the first priority of every community. If any untoward incident happens the whole of Manipur is going to burn with blood and violence. Let's imagine the aftermath if a step we mistake.

** Cross posted in my blog: here