AFSPA : The root cause of unrest in Manipur

By Vincent Zo *

It is said that nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so. Nothing can be purely completely black nor purely completely white.

Our State Manipur has lost its glory. As a citizen of Manipur, and as a student, I would like to put up some questions based on my young thoughts on the present situation paralysing our State in pertinent to the activities of the three main groups (as I should divide); The Government, Apunba Lup, Students Concerned.

As I said nothing can be purely completely black nor white, all the three groups who claim to be working for the betterment of the society have their own share of goodness as well as mistakes too.

The Government's share : In a communist country, if few Govt officials are right, they can even challenge the whole population of the country. But fortunately Manipur is part of the biggest democratic country. Whether good or bad the voice of the people is the voice of god. Governed the people not as you want or as someone else wants but governed the people as they wanted to be governed.

That's true democracy. The State is not the geography nor the fund but the living people. Since the system of Government here is of the people for the people by the people of Manipur, anyone who acts against the wishes of the people should be called real non-State actor. Do you still have the trust and support of your people Mr Chief Minister? Can I call you real non-State actor?

Apunba Lup's : Do we think if Chief Minister resigns, there will be no more fake encounters? Whenever there's fake encounter should we ask top Government Officials to resign one by one?

Troubles come from the Home Department and not from the administrative department of the Govt. So, my young suggestion would be—Mr Chief Minister should be asked to immediately leave his Home Minister's portfolio and file a criminal case against the guilty Police Commandos and not just a suspension. Everyone supports the Apunba Lup and wants to end fake encounters.

The people movement is quit serious enough for the attention of the international communities whether or not. So, isn't it time to pause for a moment and concentrate on the investigation part? Let us not forget that Mrs Sonia Gandhi, once elected Prime Minister, was not allowed to assume office.

For the Centre Govt/Party, not only removing Chief Minister but even removing Prime Minister is not a big issue as it is to be done within one's party only. Let us be realistic to our approach. Otherwise different people will suspect different things and say, the people's movement is anti- Ibobi and not anti-fake encounters.

Student's Concern : Yes, to live is greater than right to education. But the question is why do we live? If we live this minute to expect death the next minute, let us die this minute. There's a saying "Even if I know that the whole World is going to collapse tomorrow, I will still go and plant my apple tree." This is the real Art of living.

It is not nice to hear students' leaders engaged in war of worlds. Desam and Atsum on the one side and AMSU, MSF, KSA on the other side. Names of the Student's Unions might be different but members are all the same. And I would like to put forward some questions to anyone who opposes the class boycott and supports the people's movement against the July 23rd incident.

What would they do to make the people's movement successful if AMSU, MSF, KSA, accept their request to reopen all classes? Because the biggest fear would be once the present people's movement fails to succeed to make a change in our society, irresponsible politicians would take advantages and the worse things will occur in the future. What a problem?

Conclusion : Every year in Manipur there's always one big issue to organise bandh, strike, curfew, blockade, paralysing the State and promoting confusion and total chaos. The June 18 movement, the murder of Manorama etc, the Tehelka exposure of fake encounter, indefinite class boycott etc are not going to solve all this problems. All these issues have one common root & cause though it they occurs at different times.

The root cause of all these problems is the "AFSPA". The Central leaders have defined the militants in North East as "Misguided Youth". 'Misguided youth' should be properly guided, treated well and not to be shot directly. On the contrary in our State not only 'misguided youth' but even those suspected to be 'misguided youth' are shot death mercilessly and lawlessly.

Let us wake up else we will remain a laughing stock for outsiders. Valley alone can't create a peaceful Manipur. Hill districts have to play a great role. Particularly, Christians have to be an agent of peace and oneness.

Since we stay together let us live as one. Let us not live together with someone with whom we are not staying together. Stay together, live together. Instead of shouting for one primary teacher's post (I don't mean we should neglect that) let us join hands and do something to end inhuman laws like "AFSPA" which is the root cause of all fake encounters, threats etc.

I don't mean hills districts are not supporting the present peoples movement. Just that hills peoples (tribals) can also do more than just a condemnation letter. Complete cooperation of the hill districts with valley districts is necessary for a peaceful Manipur.

It is high time to raise ourself above communalism, rationalism, secularism etc and contribute to transform our State, Manipur into one of the most peaceful and developed States of our motherland, India.