Another Blockade: TDC's stand justified - Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 03, 2010 -

Our beloved brothers of the United Naga Council (UNC) have called for yet another 20-day economic blockade on NH 39 and 53 from 6 am of August 4, the day All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) would be observing "Manipur Integrity Day".

As we all know, it's not only the UNC which called for the economic blockade, but all other Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Zeliangrong, Anal, and all so-called Naga organisations based in Manipur and Nagaland-based organisations would join hands to make the economic blockade successful.

Scores of trucks and tankers would be damaged or burnt, and many drivers and passengers would sustain injuries during the upcoming latest edition of blockade. This time the focus of the blockade would be on NH 53 (Imphal-Jiribam road) in Tamenglong district where the Zeliangrong population inhabits.

As it is, following the decision of the Transporters' Drivers' Council (TDC), the apex body of all transport organisations of Manipur, most of the goods vehicles are not plying the NH 39. Though some are plying against the TDC's decision, they would probably stop once the economic blockade starts.

This time the UNC's demands–four in number–are being sought from the Government of India, not the Government of Manipur. UNC, ANSAM and other partner bodies, which are all frontal organisations of the NSCN-IM, have repeatedly made it clear that these Naga bodies, as they said the Naga people, have decided to sever all kinds of relationship with the Government of Manipur.

Therefore, the Naga bodies are not seeking their demands from the state government. But, interestingly it's the Government of Manipur which can grant the demands, not the Centre. There is a popular government formed by legislators who were elected by the people, in place.

There is no Central rule known as President's Rule in the state. The Centre can not ignore the state government's authority and interfere in the state affairs. However, the UNC knows this but it's trying to draw the attention of the Centre so that the Centre would put pressure on the state government to fulfill the demands.

The demands are –
(i) to institute a judicial inquiry into the May 6, 2010 incident at Mao gate, where two youths were shot dead and many injured;
(ii) to immediately withdraw section 144 CrPC and state IRB and police commandos from the Naga inhabited areas;
(iii) to remove the "wanted" tags from the presidents of UNC and ANSAM and
(iv) to dissolve the Autonomous District Councils.

The UNC had given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister of India to solve these issues within five days. The time had lapsed and the Centre had not given any response. There's no guarantee that during the 20-day blockade, the Centre would give any positive response either.

In that case, would the Naga bodies keep on protracting the economic blockade until some people fall dead due to starvation? That's quite unlikely. During the last 68-day economic blockade, when the prices of every single essential commodity sky-rocketed, there was no report of death due to unavailability of foodgrains or high price either in the hills or the valley.

The situation had hardly changed even after the economic blockade was temporarily suspended as no trucks/tankers plied the NH 39 and the condition of the NH 53 remained too bad. The situation was as good as imposition of economic blockade. Therefore, there would be hardly any difference even if another 20-day economic blockade is called.

In a way, it's good that the UNC is making its demands, directly from the Centre. This would make the Centre responsible for transporting the essential commodities and petroleum products to Manipur.

Meanwhile, there's no point in commenting about the attitude of UNC and its partner organisations calling for economic blockade for long period again and again to make the entire people including Nagas of Manipur suffer in the extreme.

Everyone knows the agenda, which is an open book. But on the other hand, this latest edition of blockade has justified the stand of the TDC, which has been supported by various sections of the people.