Sleepless in Tokyo: Why another economic blockade in Manipur?

Pengba Aruuba Eshingee *

Considering the fact that this was going to be the second trip to Tokyo, the excitement was much less palpable than the one felt on the eve of the previous trip a few years back. Going to Japan at a time when the country was amid a political turmoil, a dissolved lower house of Parliament, a nation struggling to contain mounting national debt -- the assumption before boarding the All Nippon Airways flight was of a tepid experience during the trip.

After two-and-half movies, some sleep and a bit of welcome disturbance from the air-hostess whose nameplate would have easily passed off as "Langlen" or "Ibechaobi" rather than "Kimiko", the rays of Sun peeped through the window of the Boeing aircraft. Narita International Airport once more!

The sky was pristine blue, everything looked calm amid the chilly autumn breeze of mid November and the immigration officials were at their best Japanese etiquette. It was hard not to admire their nature, the reflection of a race who could be fierce yet so polite.

The Imperial Hotel at Ginza, the heart of Tokyo, was a landmark in itself. Watching the Tokyo skyline at night from the 30th floor room was an experience to cherish. The neon lights, the lit up billboards and the flickering headlamps of the taxis on the street below made it look like the city never slept.

After soaking in the experience for a while, it was time to catch up with what's happening elsewhere in the world. As usual, www.e-pao.net was the first website to be opened to know what's happening in Manipur. Much to the disappointment, there was the news of Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) going ahead with their economic blockade, the accompanying pictures of long queue before petrol pumps were all too familiar but all the more frustrating.

Sitting miles away, in a tiny country which managed to overcome the devastation of two atom bombs and worked collectively to become one of the biggest economies in the world, it was a sad contrast with ones beloved home state.

As the news items, features and analyses in The Japan Times suggested, the politics in the island nation could be really cut-throat and nasty. Indeed, the ethnic politics in Manipur is not less, as suggested by the e-pao webpage links. The similarity, though, ends there.

The Prime Ministership in Japan is almost decided by a revolving door policy. The country will soon get its seventh prime minister in six and a half years, so much to speak about instability. Yet, they have never indulged in self destruction. Aware of the fact that their economy is sputtering and they have an imminent danger in the form of China over the disputed Senkaku Islands, amid the heavy duty politics, they are pressing ahead to push the country towards the road to further growth, to withstand challenges, not only from China but also from the Koreans who are now threatening to march ahead of them.

While in Manipur, Mr Ibobi is into his third five-year term and the state is witnessing the second economic blockade of an indefinite nature in as many years. The only difference this time around is that it is not the Nagas, who are holding the state to ransom. It's their Kuki brethren returning the favour of last year. The sufferers are all the same -- the common people, irrespective of whether she is a Muslim, Naga, Kuki or Meitei.

It was a sleepless night spent wondering, why are we so hell bent on self destruction? The map of Manipur looked ridiculous without the blue coloured portion of the so called Kuki state and the portion demanded by the Nagas. Issues such as economic growth, better standard of living, and good education for our children etc are never going to make headlines as the armed struggles, the bid for assertion of ethnic identity and the myriad nonsense ruled the roost.

The next day on the way to Motegi, which was some two hours bus ride from Ginza, one was made to feel for Manipur all the more after seeing the scenery that was so similar to those one would see while driving on Tiddim Road or Kangchup Road. Stretches of paddy field merged with the hills in the distant backdrop. With the harvest season already over, farmers were getting ready for the winter crop.

The fleshy mustard leaves swaying over the black soil must be looking the same as those in the "ingkhol" of that certain Ema in a distant Manipuri village. They were ripe for a plucking and perhaps would be making their way to an export market. No such luck for the mustard leaves in Manipur and the helpless 'Ema' must be wondering from where her next meal would come? Where is the market to sell her produce amid the economic blockade?

Consumed by the thoughts, there was a pain in the heart but alas there was no one to empathise. A bigger question begged to be answered as the drive through the Japanese countryside continued -- will there be an end to this senseless demand? Last year it was Nagas, this year it is Kukis, next year who knows the Meiteis? Then the Muslims and the sub-tribes, 'yumnaks' so on and so forth. Into how many pieces do you want to splice Manipur? It is high time common sense prevailed, while we, the common people should raise our voices against these thoughtless activities.

Indeed the trip to Japan this time turned out to be a tepid experience, not because of what was happening in the Land of the Rising Sun but because of what was happening in my beloved Manipur.

See a Photo Gallery on this Japan Trip here