AFSPA : From NE, JK to Delhi
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 06, 2010 -

Spiralling prices of essential commodities, hazardous NH-53, unavailability of fuel, with all the fuel outlets closed ever since the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur launched its economic blockade to protest the election to the ADCs under the 2008 3rd Amendment, only to be compounded by the ruckus kicked up by the proposed visit of NSCN (IM) general secretary Th Muivah to his birth place, Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur and the staunch opposition to it by the Ibobi Singh led Government.

The blockade has been lifted, but there is no sign of any relief for the common man. Cooking gas, has become a rare commodity but the interesting part is the fact that this same gas, which is not available with the agencies, can be had from the black market if one is ready or have the capacity to dig deep into one's pocket.

These are just some pressing issues facing the people of Manipur at present and it is somewhat unfortunate that a fresh debate on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act has emerged, with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister pitching in for some amendments to the Act to make it more humane while the Army establishment is firm in its stand against any dilution, with the Chief of the Army Staff VK Singh contending that his men need legal protection while operating in the hostile terrains of Jammu and Kashmir and the North East.

We say that the debate on this controversial Act at this juncture is unfortunate because the people of Manipur, who have managed to articulate their stand against the continued imposition of this Act in the past, already have their hands full and hence will find it hard to juggle all the pressing issues in a balanced manner.

Should the people's attention turn towards the debate that is raging over the said Act or should Manipur concentrate on the immediate, that is making NH-53 traffic worthy and upgrade it to an all weather National Highway among others, deal with the unprecedented price hike or the mushrooming growth of the fuel cartel, which have been fattening themselves off the miseries and woes of the common people ?

That the controversy surrounding AFSPA caught the attention of the whole country, after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Farooque openly spoke out against AFSPA. Jammu and Kashmir has been under this Act for the last 20 years, and this Act has now become a topic for National debate.

But remember, the North East region especially Nagaland has been under this Act for decades and so are the hills of Manipur. In 1980, the whole State came under the ambit of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, to deal with the rising number of armed groups based in the valley areas.

Not one to miss out on a topic which generates heated exchange of words and conflicting ideas, a number of news channels have already invited 'experts' on its panel for a discussion and debate to get the stories from the two sides. The significant point that stands out here is that a debate on AFSPA which was hitherto limited to the North East and Jammu and Kashmir has today caught the attention of all Indians, courtesy Omar Farooque.

The raging debate over the Army Act has caught the attention of the people of India today, but it should not be forgotten that much before Kashmir, the people of Naga-land and the people of the hill districts in Manipur have been at the receiving ends of the security forces, who operate under the immunity granted by the said Act.

Perhaps, 2004 was the turning point in the history of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the attention of the world, not only mainstream media of India, or whatever one calls them, was drawn not only towards the North East region, Manipur in particular, but also to the Act itself.

Earlier the lone and selfless battle, fast unto death agitation, launched by Irom Sharmila since 2000 after a number of civilians were killed in indiscriminate firing by the Assam Rifles at Malom, did stir the conscience of the political leaders of the day, but at the most the concern was limited to some political netas from Delhi visiting her at the security ward of the JN Hospital.

If Sharmila's lone battle is a statement of commitment and dignity in airing one's stand, the nude protest staged before the Western Gate of the Assam Rifles at Kangla in 2004, brought AFSPA under sharper scrutiny.

The arrest and later the recovery of the bullet riddled body of Th Manorama was the spark that ignited the mass protests and the demand to repeal the Act. Remember Oinam village in Senapati district in 1987 ? It is just one story.

We would be insensitive if we totally ignore the hazards and the uncertain lives that soldiers have to lead in hostile places like the North East and Kashmir, but this should not be enough reason for anyone to be to be given the license to kill and torture and yet walk away without a scratch!

The argument that AFSPA will be of no consequence once the guns of the insurgents are silenced is a subtle hint that insurgency in the North East, particularly in Manipur can be solved militarily.

This is not only a suicidal approach to the issue at hand but also speaks about the hollow knowledge of the the North East region among the political netas at Delhi. Prime Dr Manmohan Singh had to fly down to Imphal sometime in November, 2004 to pacify the enraged people and he went to the extent of admitting that the Act needed to be more humane.

The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission was the result of intense protest in Manipur.