SAPO bandh shaping into regional showdown
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 30, 2022 -

IT is now clear that the indefinite bandh called by Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) won't end any sooner unless the government of Nagaland prevails upon the agitating bodies to see reason or the counter blockade enforced by Assam Manipuris intensifies and cuts off the supply chain to Nagaland.

With no signs of Manipur-based civil societies pleading to SAPO to call off the national highway blockade stir but instead threatening to resort to retaliatory agitation in collaboration with Manipuri organisations active in Assam, it could be safely stated that the evolving situation is creating a stage for serious showdown between Manipur and Nagaland in particular and the northeast region in general.

When SAPO announced imposition of 48-hour bandh from March 21 midnight, it was seen as a harsher version of democratic movement to draw attention of the authorities concerned but extension of the stir as an indefinite period is an outright violation of the Manipur people's right to life as such mode of agitation has the mistakable motive to starve the people.

Nevertheless, such draconian tactics are unlikely to make the state's civil societies bow before its hostile neighbour for people of Manipur have the resilience to bear the severest form of hardships as was evident when Kuki and Naga apex organisations laid siege on the highways in 2011 and 2015 respectively for record number of days in pursuance and against creation of new districts.

While assurance by the government authorities brought an end to both the agitations, it is worth noting that counter blockades were enforced against these agitations.

Thus, it's not unusual that civil societies active in the state as well as some Manipuri organisations in neighbouring Assam are threatening or are already launching counter blockade to force SAPO and its affiliated bodies to think over whether or not to prolong the agitation.

Unlike in the past, when in the time of crisis, the state and the Union governments indulged in blame-game as a routine response, the present regime led by N Biren has been trying to reason that the Manipur police post, which is the root cause of SAPO's bandh, is located well inside the Manipur territory.

However, with SAPO sticking to its stand, it seems that counter blockade remains the only option to drive home the message that Manipuri people cannot be taken for granted and highway choked protractedly to air any grievances.

Moreover, Manipuri organisations seem to have learnt from past experiences that counter-blockade is the most effective means to point out that bandh/blockade for unspecific period is undemocratic and outright violation of human rights.

Notably, silence of the Nagaland government over the whole issue is being construed as covert endorsement of the SAPO agitation for Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio as well as his predecessor Shurhozelie Liezietsu, who is also president of NPF, an ally of the BJP government in Manipur, belong to the Angami tribe.

As indifferent attitude of both these Angami leaders has the potential to aggravate the unrest situation, the onus is now on the Nagaland government to defuse the situation and promote camaraderie among all ethnic communities and tribes settling in both states.