Circumstances that stir Sadar hills movement in 2011
- Part 1 -

Tonghen Kipgen *

Economic Blockade imposed by the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee on August 6 2011 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

The Sadar Hills Movement in Manipur may be classified into two Phases. The first phase covered the period from 1971 to 2010, while the Second is the Public Movement that occurred in the year 2011. Sadar Hills movement can be termed as Public Movement in view of the mass response and mass participation and also the fact that the issue has gone up to the level of the Union Government. It is also referred to as 123 Days of Agitation which covered the period between 1st July (Beginning of the movement) to 31st October 2011, the day MoU was signed and the agitation suspended. One significance of the movement was that it was mostly manned by women that infers no woman no society.

A. Denial of Justice:

The Parliament of India enacted theManipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Act, 1971 (Act No.76 of 1971). The Act provided for creation of six Autonomous District Councils in the Hill Areas of Manipur, viz.:
1. Manipur North Autonomous District (Senapati)
2. Sadar Hills Autonomous District (Sadar Hills)
3. Manipur East Autonomous District (Ukhrul)
4. TengnoupalAutonomous District (Chandel)
5. Manipur South Autonomous District (Churachandpur)
6. Manipur West Autonomous District (Tamenglong)

Accordingly, out of the six Autonomous Councils created five of them were given full fledge district. However, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council is still in the dark without allocating all the provisions as enshrined in the Act of Parliament of 1971.

In a Memorandum submitted to the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur through the Addl. Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi on 26 July 2011, the day the leadership of SHDDC and Hon'ble Members of Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council staged a Sit-In-Protest against denial of justice, it was clearly pointed out that the people of Sadar Hills have been deprived of the opportunities for all-round development thereby losing more than 38,000 crores of Rupees during the last 40 years owing to denial of Districthood.

The Chief Minister of Manipur was further asked in the Memorandum.....is the Constitution of India partial amongst the different sections of citizens of the State; is the boundary of Manipur not definitely demarcated so that our citizenship to a particular State is not yet clear; how has the State that has the earliest democratic form of Government in the whole of South-east Asia could manipulate and ignore an Act of Parliament? As the saying goes 'justice delayed is justice denied' the people are frustrated as justice is not being done to Sadar Hills. Such denial of Districthood to Sadar Hills is a matter of usurping the rights of the people concerned, gagging of the administrative power and ditching of their economic well-being. Thus, injustice in the hands of the Government is causing widespread dissatisfaction among the people.

Further, the successive StateGovernments have contemptuously side-linedand deliberately ignored the decision of the highest law making institution of the country–the Parliament of India, for the last 40 years and had failed to fulfil the rightful demand of the people. Besides denying economic development to the people of Sadar Hills for the last 40 years, several peaceful agitators have also been made to lose their precious lives for the cause of Sadar Hills Autonomous District-hood during the course of peaceful agitations. In spite of being the most peaceful and patient citizens of Manipur, the StateGovernment continues to deny the rights of the people of Sadar Hills unreasonably for 40 years.

B. Failed assurance after assurances, promise after promises by successive Governments:

Not a single successive Government of Manipur denied the genuine demand, legality and legitimacy of Sadar Hills Districthood. Everyone is convinced that it is a rightful demand and materialising the same cannot be denied at any cost. Howsoever assurances and promises have never been implemented.

(a) 1974: Tengnoupal (Chandel) district was created and inaugurated sans Sadar Hills

(b) 1982: State Cabinet decided to inaugurate Sadar Hills alongwith creation of Thoubal and Bishenpur districts.

(c) 1983: Thoubal and Bishenpur districts are inau guratedsans Sadar Hills District

(d) 1996: The Revenue Minister of Manipur, Shri Hellaludin Khan declared in the House of Manipur State Assembly for inauguration of Sadar Hills along with bifurcation of Imphal district.

(e) 1997: The Governor of Manipur in his address to the State Assembly declared the commitment of the StateGovernment of Manipur for inauguration of Sadar Hills district.

(f) 1997: Imphal district was bifurcated into Imphal East and Imphal West but Sadar Hills was left out again.

(g) 1997: HD. Deve Gowda and the I.K. Gujral Governments' instructions to the StateGovernment of Manipur to inaugurate Sadar Hills were not heeded while Thoubal and Bishnupur districts were created.

(h) 1998: The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur Shri W. Nipamacha Singh promised in written on 06-11-1998 to inaugurate Sadar Hills by 31st March 1999. And, as an interim measure, the Government of Manipur had issued separate Orders conferring all powers of Deputy Commissioners to Addl. Deputy Commissioner,Kangpokpi and Superintendent of Police to Addl. Superintendent of Police,Kangpokpi. Further, the Government of Manipur, Secretariat:Development Department, issued Orders vide No.8/61/83-Dev(MC) of dated. 29th October 1998 in creating DRDA for Sadar Hills with the Addl. Deputy Commissioner of Kangpokpi as its Chairman. However, all such measures remain as a mere assurance.

(i) 2000: The Manipur State Cabinet under the Chief Ministership of W. Nipamacha Singh re-affirmed the decision of State Cabinet of 1982 for inauguration of Sadar Hills with the existing 3 (Three) Sub-Divisions of Sadar Hills and decided to take the approval of the Election Commission of India.

(j) 2007: The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur Shri O.Ibobi Singh promised to the delegate of Sadar Hills District Demand Committee in the presence of 3 (Three) MLAs of Sadar Hills to inaugurate Sadar Hills District after completion of construction of Mini-Secretariat building at Kangpokpi. However, even after the completion of Mini Secretariat buildings' construction in early 2010 the aspiration of people of Sadar Hills still remain as a dream.

Several State cabinet resolutions have been passed. All the successive Governors and Chief Ministers of Manipur have been petitioned for concretization of the said Act in letter and spirit. The matter had already reached Prime Minister and Union (Home) Ministers level on several occasions with positive response from all concerned. All the cited circumstances that had befallen the people of Sadar Hills provoked the sentiments and tested the patience which compelled the people to determine and rise for unwanted political upheavals.

C. Assam Rifles; Foe of the Hills?

The molestation and physical assault of 11 (Eleven) peaceful women agitators by 43/Assam Rifles on 31stAugust 2011 at Gamgiphai is the manifestation of the security forces' usual approach of subjugation and violation of human rights in Manipur. Such acts of the Assam Rifles have rather become one of the main eye openers for the womenfolk to safeguard their rights to be united in their pursuit for protection and realisation of their economic, political and social rights.

The harassment and inhumane torture of more than 70 volunteers by 43/Assam Rifles on 6th September 2011 at Kangpokpi and more than 30 volunteers on 9th September 2011 at Keithelmanbi during the confrontation due to escorting of loaded civilian trucks by the Assam Rifles by force on the pretext of ASC/AHT was a good factor that stirred the tempo of the public movement. Mention may be made that on earlier occasion also a truck ferrying sandalwood worth certain crores was claimed by 43/AR as belonging to Army supply at Kangpokpi IT Road. Later, after verification the said truck was burnt down by SHDDC volunteers.

In subsequent instances, many vehicles claimed to have been carrying Army supply are found to be loaded with betel leaves (Paanpatta), fermented fish (Ngari), two wheelers and items which are not related at all with Army supply. Moreover, on interrogation of the drivers of the ill-fated trucks it was revealed that Security officials have collected money in the tune of Rs 20,000.00 per vehicle for their safe passage. Therefore, incensed agitators at Keithelmanbi sought in unison the slogan "Assam Rifles-Foe of the Hills".

The matter of the AR excesses was timely intimated to their higher ups including GOC 57 Mountain Brigade, IG/AR South and the Union Defence Minister. Accordingly the IGAR/South has constituted Army Court of Inquiry, however, any justice done and conclusion made by theCourt of Inquiry was not known to the people of Sadar Hills making the institution of Army Court of Inquiry a mockery. The courageous Army personnel who are supposed to combat insurgency and protect the people of the North-east become the dogs of State Government of Manipur.

All these circumstances in which the Army/AR are interfering and meddling with State politics as well as letting reign of terror against the peace loving people of Sadar Hills who fought 40 years for justice stirred the minds of all to be undaunted and unflinching in their struggle for districthood. Mention may be made that it was at this period of time that the tempo of stir diminished to a lethargic phase and upsetting several people, and discouraged them to prolong the agitation any further. Nevertheless, the negative attitude of the Assam Rifles however, renewed the vigour for intense agitation. But to some query of critics it is yet to be ascertained whether Security forces are plotting political unrest in Manipur to destabilise the Congress (SPF) ministry. The suppressive but negative highhandedness of the Assam Rifles, therefore have created unbridgeable mistrust between the people and the Assam Rifles.

To be continued...