Terror attack at Sangakpham
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 04 2011 -

The Chief Minister talking to media persons on Tuesday categorically said the bomb attack at Sangakpham was carried out by the NSCN-IM and the target was the ADC members who are housed nearby. Earlier the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram also held the NSCN-IM responsible for the blast.

The state Home Department in a press communiqué said the Government of Manipur has received concrete and convincing evidence which establishes the direct involvement of NSCN-IM in the series of recent violent incidents which has left several innocent civilians dead and many seriously injured in various parts of the state.

As of now, we are not clear of the facts, though it is highly probable that the main target of these terror acts are the ADCs. If this is indeed so, it is difficult to accept a justification.

Let us assume the attacks have been carried out because an organisation feels that the creation of the ADCs have had an effect of watering down its political agenda.

Let us also assume that the Government of Manipur timed the setting up of the ADCs so as to bring about a divisive factor in the support of any Naga outfit by the Nagas. This stance will only raise more questions, some of them fundamental in nature.

A few things we could keep in mind. The legality of the ADCs is derived from the constitution of India.

The ADCs have not become legal entities based on laws passed by the state government. Seen from this angle, the attacks on ADC members is also an attack on the writ of the Government of India.

What will be the consequences of the wild actions of any outfit, will have to be borne by that group.

Another point is, the ADC members, in the Naga dominated districts, were elected by Naga voters. In the lead up to the election some set ups had done whatever was in their power, to prevent the election from taking place.

Again all such acts were marked by threats and violence. However, in spite of all its efforts Naga voters turned out to cast their votes.

Let us remember without their votes there would have been no ADCs. Why are these voters not being attacked then ?

Of course we know the prepretators can't because that will mean writing their own obituary.

How will the Naga voters who voted in the ADC election feel with these attacks? It could be argued that voter turn out was too poor for the election to be considered a fair exercise of franchise.

This could will have been true in certain areas, but then in other areas the voter turn out was impressive. Anyway who was responsible from scaring the voters away from the polling booths in the first place ?

We all know the answer to that. Anyway with the menacing scenes of keeping voters away from voting it is difficult to assess the minds of the common Naga people. But what is for sure is, what has been obtained under duress cannot be construed as legal.

There is one more point on which the people seek a clarification. The ADCs have come under frequent violent attacks in Manipur.

However, the present Nagaland government is also considering to set up ADCs in Nagaland. CM Nephiu Rio and the alliance he leads is mulling over the idea of establishing ADCs in those areas referred to as Eastern Frontier.

If the ADCs are good enough and acceptable in Nagaland, then what is the need for the virulent attacks on the ADCs in Manipur ?