By Thanreingam Muivah
The most recent decision of the State Government to arm villagers to repel insurgents in their surroundings clearly manifests the crumbled law and order situation of the region in which we dwell.
Arson, lootings, extortions, killings and other forms of violence have become a part of one’s daily life in this insurgency-affected tiny State. Having a quick glance at daily newspaper proves beyond doubt. Day and night hardly pass by without hearing the deafening sounds of gun here or there, and not surprisingly an ambulance is being grabbed to transport arms and ammunition which otherwise is meant for carrying patients.
We have also seen many attempts made by the State authority and different groups of armed men to suppress the State media when it does not serve their perpetuation. If bomb could be planted on the desk of a newspaper and if several Acts could be passed on the floor of the House just to dictate the media establishments, we could imagine the state of affairs of the land.
But despite so many restraints, media being the mirror of a society, not even an ounce of ground seems to be at one’s disposal to dispute, for instance, the preoccupations of news and stories related to crime and murder in the front page of every newspaper.
Many organisations each having its own pulling have also led the masses astray in the name of working with welfare oriented objectives. Needless to say about the feigned and lip services of our power-hungry bigwigs who would remain asleep as long as they sit on their chairs.
People have now become sick and restive of umpteen groups of armed men who mask their faces with artificial skin inscribing the slogans of a real soldier struggling for ‘motherland’, but who would not hesitate to go extra miles just for a fistful of rupees and butcher an innocent thereby justifying it to be an act that truly conforms their so-called ‘Revolutionary spirit’.
To its dismay, an administration that runs with a proper hierarchy seems to be non existence in many departments in the State with imposition of several dos and don’ts from without in which the actual intension is nothing more than deducting each share of percentage by many armed groups to sustain their selfish drives. In the name of nationality one can pull the trigger at any given time but in most of the cases without having to manifest any mental attitude that is worth-considering the actual ideology which he is stuck to. Putting all these points in case, our claim that we are served with a step motherly treatment by the Centre is not absolutely unlikely to be countered. Thus, we need to dig deeper to ascertain if such intention of the Centre in dealing with the plight of Manipur really exists. But this does not mean that the people’s sense of isolation (being alienated from the mainland India) is at all our own creation. It is in the light of this situation that our deepest conscience in assessing things is called for.
So the first and foremost thing we need to ponder upon is the kind of atmosphere we have created; if it is really fit to sustain on. But to create such atmosphere that can save the State from facing further deterioration, there should be clarity about the true colour of the land and assess what really hampers its growth at grassroot level.
Among others, social heterogeneity could be one of the main features of Manipur. It is the land where multi-culture, multi-lingual and multi-religion coexist. We can broadly classify the State into the hill areas dominated by the tribals and the plain areas dominated by the Meiteis. Because of the presence of multi-identity, any attempt to homogenise the social structure of the region usually ends up inviting chaos.
The disadvantageous geographical location of the State is one of the main stumbling blocks to its economic development. According to study, the North East region (State of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura) as a whole shares less than one per cent of its borders with the rest of the country, and the rest with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Tibetan region of China. This international border has been artificially created. The outcome has been the elimination of the region’s trade, commerce and other linkages which existed in the pre-partition days. There has been talk of converting this locational disadvantage into a boon because of an increasingly integrated world economy. This is particularly so when all the seven States of the region are on international borders. In addition, these States are very close to the dynamic South-East Asian economies. Most policy makers in the region are excited and optimistic about the idea of linking their economics with dynamic Asia. There are suggestions that if for security reasons, the Government of India is reluctant to open up the natural trade routes, the North East States should ask the Central Govt to compensate them for the loss of trade. Thus, coherent policy thinking in this area should be developed.
Secondly, the weakness of India’s foreign policy. Besides failure of the economic policy framework in the region, the Government of India had ignored South East Asia for a long time. Consequently, the North East region was not only cut off from its national economic partners but also excluded by unfriendly countries.
Though trade relation with Myanmar exists, it is an unauthorised trade. The State authority of Manipur is fully aware of these activities which function smoothly through unofficial channels. China is an important player in the border trade even though its trading activities are mainly through Myanmar.
Thus, emphasis should be given on synchronising these realities into Indian trade policies. A coordinated effort by different Central Ministries — mainly External Affairs, Home and Commerce — as well as a strong commitment from the region is the need of the hour to transform the low economic activity area into a dynamic region.
The Central Government on its part should help in converting the unauthorised trade into an authorised trade. The unauthorised trade works on the basis of strong network which involves traders, police, forest departments and of course, many underground groups and each having its own share in the pie. Apart from infrastructural problems at Moreh (Manipur), the larger number of check-posts on National High Way 39 and 53 would create problem in switching over from illegal to legal trade. In most cases, the State Government turns a blind eye to the border trade in illegal items because commodities are not declared legal officially.
There is corruption at every turn. It would be a good idea to declare certain areas in the region as free trade areas officially since for all practical purposes, they are free trade areas anyway.
Thirdly, the exposure of law and order vacuum in the State. Manipur is one of the oldest insurgency States in independent India. The last few years have seen the emergence of a number of insurgent groups. Many of which have become so active and continue to spill blood. Frequent bandhs and economic blockades by various groups are another annoying factor in Manipur. Bandhs are called not only by insurgent organisations, but also sometimes even by political parties.
A related aspect is the fear of extortion, kidnapping and murder. The recent systematic killing of migrant workers numbering to fifteen is still fresh in the minds of people. In order to survive, almost every industry or business, big or small, in most parts of the State, makes regular contributions to different underground outfits. Even the public sector units as well as Government employees in many parts of the State are reportedly paying money. Frequent monetary demands of different underground groups in the State often lead to closure of commercial places where shopkeepers and others belonging to business community would openly throng the streets even in the heart of its capital, Imphal City. In such a situation, it is hard to expect any enterprise to make any investment in the State at its own risk.
In Manipur frequent bandhs are called by different underground outfits, student organisations, political parties etc. 15th August and 26th January celebrations are virtually paralysed every year by a joint bandh called by many outfits. According to the North East Development Finance Institution (NEDFI), loss in State domestic product per day due to bandh have been Rs. 4,479 lakhs. In 2000, Manipur witnessed a total of 100 days bandh.
Such bandhs called by different groups have tremendous effect on the State’s educational set up. This hampers the growth of education and as a result the students of the State are being left behind as far as academic excellence is concerned.
In a State like Manipur, where unemployment has raised its neck, it is natural that the unemployed youth take to arms. For, there has been a report that some of the insurgent groups operating in the State pay good money to their cadres.
In Manipur where people’s sense of isolation has reached its peak, it would quite be imperative for the Central and State Government to wake up from their slumber and start giving serious efforts to end insurgency in the State besides announcing numerous schemes for economic development.
The recent State Govt’s declaration of Suspension of Operation (SoO) to some UG outfits is a welcome step that should be cherished in words and spirit, and, once and for all, the SPF-led Manipur Government should utilise the time at its disposal sparingly to utter its presence.
The Sangai Express
The most recent decision of the State Government to arm villagers to repel insurgents in their surroundings clearly manifests the crumbled law and order situation of the region in which we dwell.
Arson, lootings, extortions, killings and other forms of violence have become a part of one’s daily life in this insurgency-affected tiny State. Having a quick glance at daily newspaper proves beyond doubt. Day and night hardly pass by without hearing the deafening sounds of gun here or there, and not surprisingly an ambulance is being grabbed to transport arms and ammunition which otherwise is meant for carrying patients.
We have also seen many attempts made by the State authority and different groups of armed men to suppress the State media when it does not serve their perpetuation. If bomb could be planted on the desk of a newspaper and if several Acts could be passed on the floor of the House just to dictate the media establishments, we could imagine the state of affairs of the land.
But despite so many restraints, media being the mirror of a society, not even an ounce of ground seems to be at one’s disposal to dispute, for instance, the preoccupations of news and stories related to crime and murder in the front page of every newspaper.
Many organisations each having its own pulling have also led the masses astray in the name of working with welfare oriented objectives. Needless to say about the feigned and lip services of our power-hungry bigwigs who would remain asleep as long as they sit on their chairs.
People have now become sick and restive of umpteen groups of armed men who mask their faces with artificial skin inscribing the slogans of a real soldier struggling for ‘motherland’, but who would not hesitate to go extra miles just for a fistful of rupees and butcher an innocent thereby justifying it to be an act that truly conforms their so-called ‘Revolutionary spirit’.
To its dismay, an administration that runs with a proper hierarchy seems to be non existence in many departments in the State with imposition of several dos and don’ts from without in which the actual intension is nothing more than deducting each share of percentage by many armed groups to sustain their selfish drives. In the name of nationality one can pull the trigger at any given time but in most of the cases without having to manifest any mental attitude that is worth-considering the actual ideology which he is stuck to. Putting all these points in case, our claim that we are served with a step motherly treatment by the Centre is not absolutely unlikely to be countered. Thus, we need to dig deeper to ascertain if such intention of the Centre in dealing with the plight of Manipur really exists. But this does not mean that the people’s sense of isolation (being alienated from the mainland India) is at all our own creation. It is in the light of this situation that our deepest conscience in assessing things is called for.
So the first and foremost thing we need to ponder upon is the kind of atmosphere we have created; if it is really fit to sustain on. But to create such atmosphere that can save the State from facing further deterioration, there should be clarity about the true colour of the land and assess what really hampers its growth at grassroot level.
Among others, social heterogeneity could be one of the main features of Manipur. It is the land where multi-culture, multi-lingual and multi-religion coexist. We can broadly classify the State into the hill areas dominated by the tribals and the plain areas dominated by the Meiteis. Because of the presence of multi-identity, any attempt to homogenise the social structure of the region usually ends up inviting chaos.
The disadvantageous geographical location of the State is one of the main stumbling blocks to its economic development. According to study, the North East region (State of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura) as a whole shares less than one per cent of its borders with the rest of the country, and the rest with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Tibetan region of China. This international border has been artificially created. The outcome has been the elimination of the region’s trade, commerce and other linkages which existed in the pre-partition days. There has been talk of converting this locational disadvantage into a boon because of an increasingly integrated world economy. This is particularly so when all the seven States of the region are on international borders. In addition, these States are very close to the dynamic South-East Asian economies. Most policy makers in the region are excited and optimistic about the idea of linking their economics with dynamic Asia. There are suggestions that if for security reasons, the Government of India is reluctant to open up the natural trade routes, the North East States should ask the Central Govt to compensate them for the loss of trade. Thus, coherent policy thinking in this area should be developed.
Secondly, the weakness of India’s foreign policy. Besides failure of the economic policy framework in the region, the Government of India had ignored South East Asia for a long time. Consequently, the North East region was not only cut off from its national economic partners but also excluded by unfriendly countries.
Though trade relation with Myanmar exists, it is an unauthorised trade. The State authority of Manipur is fully aware of these activities which function smoothly through unofficial channels. China is an important player in the border trade even though its trading activities are mainly through Myanmar.
Thus, emphasis should be given on synchronising these realities into Indian trade policies. A coordinated effort by different Central Ministries — mainly External Affairs, Home and Commerce — as well as a strong commitment from the region is the need of the hour to transform the low economic activity area into a dynamic region.
The Central Government on its part should help in converting the unauthorised trade into an authorised trade. The unauthorised trade works on the basis of strong network which involves traders, police, forest departments and of course, many underground groups and each having its own share in the pie. Apart from infrastructural problems at Moreh (Manipur), the larger number of check-posts on National High Way 39 and 53 would create problem in switching over from illegal to legal trade. In most cases, the State Government turns a blind eye to the border trade in illegal items because commodities are not declared legal officially.
There is corruption at every turn. It would be a good idea to declare certain areas in the region as free trade areas officially since for all practical purposes, they are free trade areas anyway.
Thirdly, the exposure of law and order vacuum in the State. Manipur is one of the oldest insurgency States in independent India. The last few years have seen the emergence of a number of insurgent groups. Many of which have become so active and continue to spill blood. Frequent bandhs and economic blockades by various groups are another annoying factor in Manipur. Bandhs are called not only by insurgent organisations, but also sometimes even by political parties.
A related aspect is the fear of extortion, kidnapping and murder. The recent systematic killing of migrant workers numbering to fifteen is still fresh in the minds of people. In order to survive, almost every industry or business, big or small, in most parts of the State, makes regular contributions to different underground outfits. Even the public sector units as well as Government employees in many parts of the State are reportedly paying money. Frequent monetary demands of different underground groups in the State often lead to closure of commercial places where shopkeepers and others belonging to business community would openly throng the streets even in the heart of its capital, Imphal City. In such a situation, it is hard to expect any enterprise to make any investment in the State at its own risk.
In Manipur frequent bandhs are called by different underground outfits, student organisations, political parties etc. 15th August and 26th January celebrations are virtually paralysed every year by a joint bandh called by many outfits. According to the North East Development Finance Institution (NEDFI), loss in State domestic product per day due to bandh have been Rs. 4,479 lakhs. In 2000, Manipur witnessed a total of 100 days bandh.
Such bandhs called by different groups have tremendous effect on the State’s educational set up. This hampers the growth of education and as a result the students of the State are being left behind as far as academic excellence is concerned.
In a State like Manipur, where unemployment has raised its neck, it is natural that the unemployed youth take to arms. For, there has been a report that some of the insurgent groups operating in the State pay good money to their cadres.
In Manipur where people’s sense of isolation has reached its peak, it would quite be imperative for the Central and State Government to wake up from their slumber and start giving serious efforts to end insurgency in the State besides announcing numerous schemes for economic development.
The recent State Govt’s declaration of Suspension of Operation (SoO) to some UG outfits is a welcome step that should be cherished in words and spirit, and, once and for all, the SPF-led Manipur Government should utilise the time at its disposal sparingly to utter its presence.
The Sangai Express
