A game called ‘Tipaimukh’

By: Elf Hmar

- Elf Hmar, 9th September 2006

It does feel great when you see the name of your place and stories of your people gets highlighted in the media, be it in the electronic or print. In spite of knowing your land lacks everything in the modernity sense, you someway and somehow feel proud to see that it still found a space in some corner. This is true for the Tipaimukh—a place I call my home and land.

Since the beginning of the year, Tipaimukh has been on the limelight in both national and international levels. I do not know whether to say thanks or a no thanks. But the reason for the publicity is owed to two controversial issues—mass rape and dam. Despite all the exposure it received, the bigger issues tucked underneath are still left untouched. There is deficiency in the understanding and grasping of the ground reality that the Tipaimukh people faced and are made to confront each and every day. We failed to realize and accept the root for all the attention it suddenly found. The root of these issues still lie in wait where there is a need for certain level of understanding of the problems.

Today, when one talk or make mention of Tipaimukh; it is either of the mass rape of Hmar women by the banned UNLF and KCP rebels or a Large Dam that has been proposed to be built in the area. The reason of these two issues been touched is somehow because of the deprivation of rights by the ruling ‘mafia’ to the people in the area. This is truly sad. If this continues unabated, it is not far when the time will come when everything is already late, all too late to reconcile.

It is sad but true how the Tipaimukh Rape issue has been sidelined by the so-called right-thinking majority people in the state’s valleys. I give them credits for their successful intrusion in diverting the issue of Tipaimukh Rape to Tipaimukh Dam. It is so amazing a work well done. What a strategy, I could only stare. And what a scapegoat they make of those fronts that are yet to realise how they are being used and manipulated to serve their own selfish agendas. When they realise so, it will then be too late for them to make amends. I cry for those sincere humble souls who are been mercilessly fooled to provide the food for the pot-bellied greedy manipulators. I can only say, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.

We eat, drink and sleep Tipaimukh Dam every other day. We talk about the problems it will cause to the people in the area. The people it will displace and the kind of environmental and bio-diversity impacts it will have on the region. We shout all these at the top of our lungs. We cry against the abuses of their rights as loud as we can against the government for taking the people for granted. But we never really care. If we had really cared—the raped, maimed, tortured, killed victims and displaced villagers of Tipaimukh would already have their due justice. But they are far to get that. Instead the abuses to their rights get doubled each passing day. They might not ever get it. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe something at least will be seen in the days to come as the state’s assembly election is round the corner again. It is during such time of events that the people can fight back for their rights; give back the abuses to the abusers of their rights. A government merely uses the people. It never really wants to solve the problems its people face. So whoever gets elected does not matter at all in the long run. The people’s rights remain abused; problems keeps pouring in rather than drying out.

We never want to understand the context and the problems the people in Tipaimukh are already confronting for decades. The sufferings of the people failed to find a space in us. We smash it down and drove it down their throats. We do this because they do not matter to us anyhow, anyway. It will not profit us in anyway, that’s what we say. We failed to realize the consequence of these rejections. Our conscience failed to reason the reasons for the absence of development in any sphere in the region and the why and how of giving them those which have been continuously denied to them for years and years. Only when we allow giving room to this, will we be able to understand the acute pitiable conditions the people in the area leads everyday.

And you know buddy, Big Bro is watching us, he is watching silently. And it does concern you. Big Bro knows the truth. He just smiles at the silly games you play; playing the game along with you just for the game of it, though for just a short while.Do you really understand the game you are playing buddy? The rules of the game, eh? You know, interestingly, I like this game too. I seem to be good in it too. Make your move buddy. It’s not yet my game yet. I like it better when the game gets more complicated and tough. I like to be cornered in the corner. Because that’s usually when I make my move to counter the silly moves you make. And you know, that is when you are to know it’s a game you would not have sat down on.

n “Sanaleipak”, you value and talk of integration. What a wonderful intriguing word it is—integration. But whose integration and in what colours does it adorn itself? Is not it black? And what is this? Integration of those which is not yours? Integration with those you don’t give a damn? That’s so sweet. Excuse me please, but are not all your talks and acts fulfilling disintegration instead? Think about it. The most dreaded word for “Sanaleipak” — disintegration, which your people—the Meitei people shy away from and looked at it gingerly is actually what you and your people are propagating and supporting. Matter of fact, that’s the game you have been playing so playfully all the while. How nice and romantic it sounds. Doesn’t it? I doubt whether it will remains so.

Co-incidences do occur. Co-incidences are also man-made. And when certain co-incidences occur, it is only natural that the curiosity takes over to disclose the reasons for those co-incidences. Such is the case between the extensive human rights abuses in Tipaimukh by non-state actors and Tipaimukh Dam issue by state actors. It is funny to see how the Tipaimukh Dam issue has been making headlines while the rape issue gets subjugated to take a backseat. It’s funny and it’s not funny at all. The people who are suffering and are to suffer more are the butt of the joke. They are kicked to the far corner and made to take the brunt of all things ugly as if they are sub-human beings or some lowly animals.

You see, you need to rethink your actions. What usually is the cause of disintegration? I ought to tell you this before, but I thought you would grasp it by now. But your actions do not seem to indicate your knowledge of such. Let me just as well tell you. Why beat about the bushes, right? The causes are deprivation, marginalization and abuses of the rights of people. You see now? Let me give you a couple of hints to make your view clearer. Do you read anything in the signing of the Deed of Commitment by armed Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribal groups, pledging their commitment to ban anti-personnel landmines? What of the recent forming of the United People’s Front by the same tribal groups? Let me give you space for your thoughts. I played my part. The ball is in your court.