Internet ban and school closure
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 16, 2024 -

JUST like many other ad hoc decisions taken by the government of Manipur in the name of curbing violence and spread of misinformation since the conflict between the Kuki-Chin and Meetei communities broke out on May 3 last year, the latest half-hearted decision of banning internet and mobile data services in some parts of the state as well as closure of educational institutions is turning out to be the proverbial Manipuri saying, "Thingel da tainaba ngamdraga, nasikhong da tainaba".

Instead of doing what it ought to do, the government is only looking the other way, and wasting its energy and resources in the process.

Till the time of writing this editorial, the government of Manipur is yet to completely lift the ban imposed on internet and mobile data services in some parts of the state since September 10 and no one knows when the educational institutions would reopen again with the state Education Department issuing notifications for extending the closure after every two days, thus, causing serious concern over the possibility of jeopardising future of the students.

The latest round of banning internet and mobile data services had followed the escalation of protest launched by students, who came out to the streets after their schools and colleges had remained shut as precautionary measures against the aerial bombings carried out by armed Kuki-Chin militants on civilian populations with use of weaponised drones.

The Government decision to close the schools and colleges to protect the students from such aerial bombings may look like the perfect solution.

But as the government and its security forces failed to act and give befitting reply to the Kuki-Chin militants, who are today only becoming boulder in their aggression, angry students had been forced to take out rallies to demand resignation of the security advisor and the DGP, handing over the charge of Unified Command to the chief minister, among others.

The same is true about the decision taken to ban internet and mobile data services in some parts of the state.

It may have been invoked in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 to curb spread of violence as well as misinformation in the light of escalation of the students' protest and the casualties suffered in the confrontation with the security forces. But there seems to be something more than this.

After the first order issued on September 10 for "temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for 5 days," another order had been issued soon after to clarify that the ban was meant for only the valley districts, probably due to the strong objection raised from some quarters towards the declaration of statewide internet ban irrespective of conflict and peaceful zones.

Two days after this, another order was issued on September 13, announcing lifting of the ban on broadband services while the restriction on lease lines and mobile data services remains.

Even as this action of the government has once again created an internet divide between those who could afford to have broadband connections and those who could not, reports of people gathering in large number in areas close to hill areas where internet services are available has raised question on the effective of the government's decision to continue banning internet and mobile data services in some parts of the state.

As we have already pointed out through this column earlier, imposing ban on internet services can never be a solution to the over 16 months long crisis in Manipur.

If banning of internet services could serve the purpose, then the crisis in Manipur would have been resolved within the first five days or the next six-month period when the ban was in place last time.

The government of Manipur needs to wake up to this reality.