Naga-Meitei Bhai, Bhai ?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 19, 2010 -

There are reasons, which we do not need to repeat now, for the great importance attached to June 18 every year after 2001. The 9th anniversary of this day, observed as Unity Day by the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and the Great June Uprising by the United Committee Manipur (UCM), has the same message and spirit, which is protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur as well as peaceful co-existence of the different communities living in Manipur for ages.

From the August 4, 1997 historic integrity rally organised by AMUCO to the June 14 Bangkok Declaration of 2001 to the spontaneous 'revolt' of the people on June 18, 2001, especially the Meiteis in Imphal and other parts of the valley areas, to the 52 days economic blockade imposed by the All Naga Students' Association in 2005 against the declaration of June 18 as a State holiday by the State Government to the very present scenario, which includes the tragic death of two young students at Mao Gate on May 6, the decision of the State Government to ban the proposed visit of Th Muivah to his birthplace, the seizing of arms from MR and IRB personnel at Ukhrul by a mob in the evening of June 2, all have one common common strand-the demand for a Greater Lim and the strong opposition to it.

Every year, after June 18, 2001, this date or day been religiously observed with people from all walks of life paying their tributes to the memorial sites at Kekrupat as well as the public meetings and exhortations that follow, albeit separately one under AMUCO and the other under the UCM.

During the period, from June 18, 2001 to June 18, 2010, the State has experienced heavy pressure and pulls and pushes from different directions and forces and it is to the credit of the people that no outright show down has resulted between the proponents of a Greater Naga-land and those who are staunchly against any design to compromise with the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Yes, there have been rumours and wild panic, spread by some elements, who do not understand the issue at all or are just out to create trouble for the sake of it, but it is remarkable that the people have displayed such resilience during the 52 days economic blockade in 2005 and now the over 60 days economic blockade.

It is a different matter that the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur and the United Naga Council have decided to call off the total blockade from 4 pm of June 18, but there is still that uneasy feeling of uncertainty over whether this has been nece- ssitated by the pressures mounted from different directions or after a sincere effort in soul searching.

The truth, however ugly or unpleasant it may sound is, the cry of age old ties and brotherhood between the Nagas and the Meiteis seem to have taken the direction of Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai, before the Chinese showed its treacherous side, during the time of Pandit Nehru.

The maturity of the people has been demonstrated again and again, during all these trying times, and this year too, UCM and AMUCO hit the right chords by displaying a keen understanding of the issue at hand.

No community bashing or communal tones were heard at Thau Ground, where AMUCO held the Unity Day or at Kekrupat where the UCM organised the Great June Uprising.

AMUCO perhaps delivered a political master stroke, by not referring to the present economic blockade (it was called off only at 4 pm on June 18) or the proposed visit of Th Muivah, but instead stressed on the importance of the people to realise the strategies being charted out by powerful forces and open the door for problems, by playing the communal or ethnic cards.

UCM has its reasons for backing the decision of the transporters never to ply on NH-39 and this can have an impact in the days and years to come. It is against the backgrounds, which we have just mentioned, that the State observed June 18, 2010 and it is encouraging to see that the people are increasingly becoming aware of the fact that this is a political issue, which should not be over ridden by rhetorics and playing to the galleries along communal lines adopted by some elements.

To be politically aware is the need, for what is facing Manipur is a result of the political parleys or discussions held at New Delhi, Kohima or abroad between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.

No one is against the idea of peace and no one is against the negotiations between the two entities, but the contentious point is the creation of a Greater Lim at the cost of three neighbouring States.

This is a tricky issue, for the NSCN (IM) or Mr Th Muivah seem to have sold the idea of Naga Nationhood, living under a single political entity amongst the Naga civil society organisations, which have even christened the supremo of the IM group as the 'peace negotiator' of South East Asia.

We have nothing against the encomiums or flattering titles bestowed on Mr Muivah, but what the Naga civil society organisations should realise is the plain fact that the absence of guns booming in the hills or the end of armed confrontations do not necessarily mean peace in its truest sense.

For the people of Manipur, especially the Meitei community, it is also time to self introspect how an underground organisation, hitherto waging a war against the Government of India, has managed to mobilise the general population around the dream of a Greater Lim. June 18, is perhaps the perfect day or date to delve into this question.