Of false and true patriotism
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 18, 2013 -

Like every year for the past 12 years, tomorrow (June 18) all roads would lead to Kekrupat where the mortal remains of 18 people, who were killed in the police firing during the June 18 uprising of 2001 against the extension of the June 14, 2001 Bangkok ceasefire agreement signed between the Naga rebel group, NSCN (IM) and the Government of India into the territory of Manipur, have been laid to rest.

People from far and wide as well as from different walks of life would be converging once again at the Kekrupat Martyrs’ Memorial complex to offer floral tributes to the departed souls and to affirm their pledge for protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur.

And, there would be no dearth of exhortations and speeches from various public leaders on the occasion, like every year, again.

However, a significance difference in the commemorative event this time, of course, would be the combined observance function to be hosted jointly by United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) under the banner of ‘The Great June 18 Uprising and Unity Day’ for the first time ever at Kekrupat, thus, putting an end to a long standing deadlock of organizing the anniversary of the June 18 incident separately and bringing a great sigh of relief to the people, particularly the family members of all those who gave away their lives for a better tomorrow.

On the eve of observing this historic June 18 incident, one needs to look back at the genesis of the event for better understanding of its true significance from a correct perspective.

Even though the declaration of Bangkok ceasefire agreement with the controversial phrase, ‘without territorial limits beyond Nagaland’ signed between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, may have acted as the immediate cause of the uprising that led to burning down of the old State Assembly building, the Chief Minister's office, the Speaker's residence, MLAs’ quarters, offices of some political parties and other Government establishments, the voice of the angry people was not so much against the mere signing of a ceasefire pact between the Government of India and the Naga rebel group, which, in fact, had been going on with or without territorial limits since August, 1997.

But it was more to do with the betrayal of the public trust repose on the State Assembly, which had adopted resolutions several times to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur, and the Government of India, which had time and again given assurances that the ceasefire with the Naga rebel group would not be extended beyond Nagaland.

It was this great betrayal that struck right through the political consciousness of an otherwise resilient and forbearing people, who were ultimately forced to come out of their respective houses voluntarily to say enough is enough.

So, there is none who deserved to be given the credit for the June 18 Uprising that taught a lesson for life to all concerned.

Apart from the 18 precious lives that fell down to the bullets of police firing, every individual who came out on to the street on that day in response to call of duty for saving their motherland was a hero, a true patriot.

But over the years, the significance of the June 18 uprising that would remain etch in the history of Manipur, not in golden letters, mind you, but with the blood of those 18 people who sacrificed their lives for the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur, seems to have been reduced to an occasion for sharing the limelight between the same treacherous politicians and other political wannabes, whose first reaction to the slightest sound of danger would be to duck their heads.

This is indeed sad, to say the least.