Action not rhetoric needed
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 19, 2010 -

The issue of insurgency cannot be solved by military power. The issue can be resolved only by political dialogue. This has been admitted quite often by not only military top brass engaged in containing the insurgency movement directly but also political leaders.

Under this understanding, many insurgent outfits operating in the North East region have laid down arms and are in the process of political dialogue. In Manipur too, a number of armed outfits have entered into a process of political dialogue.

But major outfits of the State are staying away from such process. Leave aside political dialogue, a conducive condition for ceasefire still remains elusive as far as these major outfits are concerned.

We have heard umpteen times political leaders of both the State and Centre inviting insurgent groups to come out for 'peace-talk'.

In response, insurgent groups have evinced willingness to sit for political dialogue provided sovereignty of Manipur is on the agenda. Some groups have even proposed for a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations.

It is here the channel for any political dialogue between the opposing groups ends in a damp squib. While the Government is open to dialogue only under the Constitution of India, the insurgent outfits are deadly opposed to this pre-condition.

It is quite obvious that the major insurgent outfits shying away from Government's invitation for political dialogue are opposed to the Constitution of India. Because of these contradictory positions, it is hard to imagine any sort of dialogue involving these major insurgent outfits.

There is no denying that the Government is in favour of peace-talk. It is not only the Government, people are starving of peace. It is everybody's understanding that the insurgent outfits too would be wishing for peace.

They are sons of the soil and there is no reason for them to oppose any move towards bringing peace in the troubled-torn State. Both sides wish for peace. Neither sides are oppose to dialogue.

Then what is keeping them away from coming to the negotiating table ?

Here, the Government needs to take up some concrete steps sincerely. Only the rhetoric of 'door wide open for dialogue' would not do.

The Government need to go down the serious business of setting in place a condition where all underground outfits feel safe to come out for dialogue.

Many learned people, deeply concerned with the welfare of the land are sitting idle. Many Government officials fit for conflict management have not been put into service.

By pooling together resources of these officials and learned citizens, the Government can appoint moderators and send feelers to identify the likes and dislikes of insurgent groups.

In short, the Government need to initiate some practical ground works. The invitation for political dialogue sent out with a pre-condition while simultaneously resorting to military power would find no takers.

The oft-repeated rhetoric 'door wide open for dialogue' cannot win any rebel's confidence.