UPA Government and Ibobi Government Are Responsible for Worsening Manipur Situation
- Central Organ of CPI(ML) -

27 May 2010

UPA Governmnet at Centre and Ibobi Government in the State Are Responsible for Worsening Manipur Situation
Central Organ of CPI(ML) Volume 11 June 2010 Issue 6 English Monthly

AN INDEFINITE economic blockade by various Naga tribal groups from April 11 demanding amendment of Manipur Autonomous District Council Act and the Manipur government's decision not to allow NSCN leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his birthplace has literally brought the state to a halt. Hundreds of trucks carrying essentials and medicines were stranded in the adjoining state of Nagaland with protesters laying a siege on National Highway 39 — the lifeline of Manipur — to protest the state government's decision not to allow Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), to visit his birthplace in Ukhrul district, about 220 km from Mao Gate. The blockade has resulted in acute shortage of food, medicine and other essential commodities in the state and very soon the entire life support system in the state would collapse. A litre of petrol is selling at Rs.200, a cooking gas cylinder for Rs.1,500, while a kilogram of rice is selling at Rs.60 to Rs.70.

NH-39 is the principal highway from the rest of India into the State. NH-53 (the New Cachar Road) linking Cachar in Assam to Imphal is another lifeline, though it is longer and less preferred. There is yet another point of entry, going all the way into Mizoram and entering Churachandpur district. The uniqueness of the political geography of the State is that Manipur is at the end of a receiving chain of roads, and on the edge of the periphery of the Indian state. Most essential goods come into Manipur; few goods considered essential by the rest of the country leave it. Blockade of highways leading into and out of Manipur, which has become a routine phenomenon, only hurts the State, not the rest of the country. Blockades of Manipur do not inspire sense of urgency to the government.

The government of India which had forcefully integrated Manipur in 1949 to Indian union is pursuing a policy of all round suppression by imposing AFSPA in order to provide the occupying Indian military and paramilitary forces along with the police commando forces of the state government run by representatives of the elite classes of the state unlimited powers. But when it comes to providing essential commodities to the people, to maintain a regular surface transport to the state, it is least concerned.

The CPI(ML) Manipur state organizing committee has called on the people of Manipur to strongly protest against the fascist policies of occupation by the central government which is not bothering to provide even most urgently required essential commodities at reasonable prices to the people.

In a statement issued by Central Committe of CPI(ML) on 21st May it is stated that the latest flare up of tension along Manipur-Nagaland border has led to cutting off of all road links to Manipur and to unprecedented miseries to the people through intensified state repression and the trading of all essential commodities going to black market. From the experience of past decades the central government could easily evaluate that without taking initiative to resolve the contending issues, at least to start a dialogue between the states, it is extremely dangerous to plan a visit of Mr. Muviah, the leader of NSCN to his native village in Manipur. In spite of it, by encouraging such a visit the central government has committed the grave crime of deepening the fissures between the two states in line with the 'divide and control' policy the consecutive governments are pursuing from 1947 following the footsteps of British colonialists. The Congress-CPI led state government, instead of trying to find an amicable solution to ease the dangerous situation, played its own pernicious game of intensifying the divide by encouraging chauvinist actions to consolidate its power.

As a result, it is the vast masses of Manipuri people whether Meeteis, tribals or others who are suffering. Their free movements are restricted.Workers are not getting jobs. Hospitals have no medicine and even oxygen cylinders. And the people have no food as they cannot afford the black market rates. Still the central government, which has deployed military and para-military forces to suppress the people and imposed AFSPA, is not taking any steps to get the economic blockade lifted and to airlift essential supplies urgently.Neither it is taking any urgent steps to ease the situation. The state govt. is also utilizing this situation to serve its nefarious goals and to fatten the hoarders and black-marketeers.

The CPI(ML) has demanded immediate action from the central government to get the blockade lifted and to make all essential commodities available. CPI(ML) demand that the state government should stop promoting chauvinist forces and stop black marketing.

CPI(ML) appeals to all section of the people to not fight against each other as the ruling classes and the central and state governments serving them want, but to fight against the central and state governments to ensure peace, food, employment and democratic rights.

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