The eviction drive at Kabo Leikai
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 29 2011 -

The trials and tribulations of being part of the political entity called Manipur knows no bounds. The state government had decided to acquire land in a stretch adjacent to the erstwhile Naga river, which now is reduced to a drain thanks to the fertile delusions of bird brained engineers.

Kabo Leikai as the area in concern is referred to is squeaking in protest, and all tribals have diligently stood up to protest against the government’s stand to acquire the said land.

The government defends its stance by saying it needs the land to construct a 5 star hotel. The quasi permanent residents have retorted by asking the government to take over adjoining government office spaces to suit its propose.

Evictions are never a pleasant experience. Most affected families feel uprooted and disoriented. From this perspective only can only sympathise and empathise with the affected people.

However, on the other hand change is a law of life. Without splitting hairs on how long have the present residents of Kabo Leikai been residing in the area of contention, it will be difficult to stand up against an official decision particularly if it has been taken in the general interest.

There are two issues which we have to be aware of. And both are linked with the Kabo Leikai stand off.

One is the argument that within the Kabo Leikai area the government already has enough space to construct two or three 5 star hotels, and the quest for more land is an act of greed, or worse still, it is directed against the interests of the tribal community.

We have little to comment on the 'anti tribal community' component of this line of reasoning.

We can however make a comment on the issue that ‘no extra land is required’.

First of all this is a fallacious reasoning. When one plans to construct a complex to house a 5 star hotel, one has to look beyond just a decade or so.

One has to take care of any future expansions. And that may lead to even more space than envisaged now.

The second point moot for discussion is the dislocation of several families who were evicted from their ancestral homesteads in order to expand Tulihal airport.

And let us remember this, these families had not migrated from others areas, and decided to call their leikais properties since time immemorial. They have now been shifted to new locations where they have no emotional roots.

One only deduce they have learnt to accept the reality given the bigger interests the evictions will serve.

We need to widen our horizons, look for a better future and stop compartmentalizing our perspectives.

If however, people wish to stand in the way, one thing is certain, the government juggernaut will roll on, come what may.