Surrendered programme of insurgency is not a solution to end the armed movement
- Imphal Times Editorial :: March 10, 2021 -

20 cardres of four armed rebel group operating in the region have laid down arms and surrendered to the government of Manipur. According to the state home department those cadres who had laid down arms and ammunitions and surrendered to the government includes cadres from Thadou People’s Liberation Army (TPLA), UNLF, PLA and PREPAK (Pro).

Well and good, it is another achievement of the N. Biren Singh led government and people from all wakes of life as this is a sign of restoring peace and normalcy in the region. It is a simple perception because the more the number of cadres started having trust to the government and have voluntarily approached the government to live normal life will reduce the conflict between security force and the armed insurgent group.

Well the surrender –cum rehabilitation Scheme for the North East States was introduced during the month of April 1998. Before its implementation there were debate among the people on whether the scheme will be a perfect tool to marginalize the armed insurgence group of the region. Even a Col. Of the Indian army identified as A.R Sakshi had openly pin point the danger of the scheme as there were possibilities of those who are not cadres of any outfit may claimed to be member of armed group and surrendered just to get benefit of the scheme.

Since the introduction of the scheme many cadres have surrendered. There were also report of surrendered drama which has been exposed through media in the late 2000s.

The Scheme has been revised to make it more effective and will come into effect from 01.04.2018. Under the Revised Scheme for Surrender-Cum Rehabilitation of Militants in the North East States, 2018 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, rehabilitation benefits given to the surrendered cadres included a one-time financial grant of Rs. 4 lakh to each cadre, which is to be kept in a bank in their names as fixed deposit for a period of three years.

They will stay in a rehabilitation camp for three years during which they will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 6,000 each. Incentives for surrendered weapons have also been provided. This is what the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who is also in charge of Home had stated today during the homecoming Ceremony organized by the State Home Department at the Banquet Hall of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles.

Well and good, the N. Biren singh government is slowly moving towards the positive direction to restore peace and normalcy in the state. But one thing skeptical to the people is that will the opening of doors for surrender of the insurgence promising them of financial package will end the armed movement in the region.

This is being question as no matter how much cadres of different UGs had surrendered the armed group seems to have no heat or any impact. These armed revolutionary group sometimes intensified even after the claimed surrendered of their cadres. And besides, nobody , except those in the home department knew the identity of those who surrendered today. May be due to security reason their identity has not been revealed but the fact is that there are possibility of those claimed cadres surrendered today as imposters of the rebel group.

The need of the state is to ensure that peace is restored by solving the issue of the insurgencies through dialogue and not by forcing few among them to come and join the main stream. It is more important to initiate peace deal with the armed group rather them inviting some few to come and joined the mainstream.

Saying so, the government did tried and the response from the armed group were not positive , so it is natural that the Government take up alternative means to end the crisis . And the alternative optioned is the Surrenderee cum rehabilitation.

It is known to everyone who are spending their whole time researching the rise of armed insurgency movement in the state. And one similar findings of the birth of armed revolutionary movement is the annexation of Manipur. These rebel group strongly disagree the joining of Manipur to Indian state as they felt the way Manipur was merged to India was illegal.

Nevertheless, after Manipur has been annexed by India , it as put to the mere status of Part C state and later Union territory and then it become a full fledged state in January 21, 1972, which is about 24 years of Indian Independent. So much has been destructed to the social and political life of the people of the state after becoming a part of Indian state. Over 1000s of precious lives has been wasted and it is only after 2014 that the people have some respect from the center for reason best known to those rulling at Delhi.

In July 2015 Lok Sabha MP of India Sashi Tharoor demanded reparation payment from the UK to India for 200 years of its colonial rule. He even demanded apology from the British Parliament for the kind of destruction made by the then colonial ruler. The British Parliament listen to the former diplomat and appreciated him prompting to regret for what their ancestors had committed India.

Well, Manipur today is a very much part of India. Manipuri soldiers had fought war against Pakistan during Kargil war and two even martyred fighting the Pakistani soldiers. Recently at Ladakh too a Manipuri soldiers (Indian Army) had fought the Chinese PLA to protect the country.

Now we all know that Manipur had been forcibly annexed but it is slowly becoming a part of India. An apology to the way that Manipur was annexed in 1949 and compensate for the damage of the reputation of the erstwhile may rather be a positive and effective way of solving the issue of the armed insurgency movement in the region.