Manipur! A Police State? Why ? And Why Not!

Huirem Dayamoi *

Police at the scene after the Shoot-Out at Khwairamband Bazaar on July 24 2009

At some point in time, either because of something true or misinterpreted or misrepresented facts of History, we created the insurgents! We might have or might not have liked their ideology or propaganda – either credible or not credible – but they are there and they would never have been there if it were not for us! We gave birth to them, for they were from among us and not some aliens from a different Planet! Did we fail? We might have and we might not have!

The Establishment, in turn, had to react and contain! It's their bounden duty, sworn duty! And there's nothing wrong in that, rather they should be appreciated – for, it's not only desirable but also that's the very reason why they are there and they!, represent us! They are there for the sole purpose of our protection and for our safety, and they too were and are raised from among us , chosen by us and created by us! Don't they deserve our thankfulness and gratitude? Where and to whom do we turn to when we're in trouble from any sort of extra-legal elements and who are there to protect us then?

Then when, and at what point of time - the lines were crossed? Extremism, Insurgency, Millitancy and Terrorism - is the mere progression of a progressive failure in the backdrop of a declared or adopted ideology and it's failure in actual and targetted execution and it's failure in the achievement of the same on the ground.

It may be easy to understand the progression from Extremism to Insurgency – but it might be a little more difficult but not at all impossible to understand the progression from Millitancy to Terrorism. Those whom we term as 'Terrorists' might not like themseleves to be called by that name!

For, ideologies and ideological affiliations to either religion/religions or issue/issues might differ, it's only their action and the methodologies to affect those actions that make them reach that stage wherein they are termed as 'Terrorists' - and never before.

The sole criterion is : by any means of action, they instill fear and terror in the minds of the innocents and the innocent public! That's the point in time in the progression when certain parties resort to create undue fear and terror in the minds of the innocent public to achieve their own declared or undeclared aims and aspirations.

And that's the stage when our own creation becomes our own nemesis! And that's the point in the progression where we realise our own mistakes!And that's the exact point where they defeat themselves!,their ideologies become blurred and their whole exercise simply becomes an exercise in 'self preservation'!: a 'self preservation' at the cost of everything they might have actually or mistakenly stood or is standing for.

But is it the only facet? No! For, 'Terrorism Breeds Terrorism'! The Establishment!, in the course of their real or so called bounden duty, in the course of giving a recourse to the common public against such 'Terror', either by means of a justified or seemingly justified means, to counter the threat so posed by the so called 'Terrorists' and to save the general and innocent public from their 'Terror Tactics', had to reinforce themselves and had to increase their numbers vis-a-vis the others.

Recruitments, and recruitments followed! New Regiments, new Battallions and new Departments were created! And should it not have been done so? After all it's for us, us - the general public! And we should and we do wholeheartedly welcome it! Unfortunately though, the ultimate result, and which, even a blind man can openly see is that they now far outnumber the so called 'Terrorists'!.

The ultimate result is that we are now far more 'Millitarised' in degree than 'Terrorised'! Throw in some more spices - after the expiry of the MISA, the TADA and the POTA - spices, like the AFSPA, the ULA, the UAPA and now the so called NCTC looming ostensibly over only the extra-legal factors, and add to these the misuse of power by some or a few unscrupulous elements, and now we are far more 'Millitarised' and in turn far more 'Terrorised' than ever before!

Combine the two opposites! And we have a whole state, a whole public, a whole nation-'Terrorised'! We are now being 'Policed' by these factors in every walk of our life. The right to our life and liberty, the right to our freedom of movement and speech, the right to honourably earn our livelihood and our most fundamental right ( not as is enshrined in the Constitution ), to live a life without fear and with dignity and to die with dignity: have all but been effectively forfeited!

But who are they? Are they not us? Are they from not among us? All of them! Those who 'Terrorise' and those who are 'Terrorised'! Those who 'Police' and those 'who are Policed'! They are us! The 'Public' is us! The State is us! Then why should it be a 'Police State'?, and in the same vein, 'why should it not be a Police State'?

And though this question is again best left to the 'General Public', I'd like to add a small footnote:

'Without Development there can't be Peace, and without Peace there can't be Development'.

And this is with all due respect to our Honourable CM, Shri O.Ibobi Singh, that Sir, although - 'uneasy lies the head that wears the crown' and one can't expect you to do everything without us doing our part and though no one is perfect - this time - as you have been given the 'most stable mandate', and by extension 'a should or would be the most stable Government ever', along with Stability, Integrity and Development, our genuine request to you now is to work towards bringing Peace and and to bring Peace and to keep Peace!

And although History can never be fully accommodated in the Present, the future will know you as the person 'Who was the Harbinger of Peace'! in a now God-Forbidden State called 'Manipur'! And we hope and pray that Your Good office doesn't fail in this 'Mandate'!