Angels of Death

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E-Pao! Opinion - Angels of Death

Angels of Death

By: Elf Hmar *

The mocking realities of any events related to 'Manipur' provoke a sense of ironic amusement that raise the question on how lengthy we can go in this manner. The undeniable truth of what remains of Manipur is that it has turned into an amusement park for everybody. The status quo in Manipur today is that which way you look, death stares at you with no room for escape. And that is the Angel of Death, borne out from Manipur's very own womb.

For all its worthy potentials, Manipur has outrageously turned itself into a complete incompetent fool right from the head of the government—a laughing stock for anybody who knows a bit of Manipur intrinsic resolved and unresolved issues of which there are tons. Do you ever find yourself amused by that fact on how such a weakling could ever get to become our guardian? The top guy is a puppet of and for anybody. Well, that may be the reason of his existence.

For decades, being what we really are—treacherous lots—we sold out our genuine issues for petty crooked dealings to suck the blood of the land, its people and resources, our so-claimed pride and glory. We continue to live in a fool's paradise with our big yellow thirty-twos occupying the full length and breadth of our worn-out faces with false glorification.

Today, taking a look at the precious 'Manipur', one could see the extent we have digress for none of its worth. We have done a grievous punishable offence to it and stupidly pretend not to take notice of our deeds. True sons of the soil we call ourselves. The truth is—we are but true unworthy and retarded traitors—scums of the soil! I guess, if Manipur were a living woman being, it would cry for days and nights, for breeding such sons and daughters. It would cry in shame and regrets.

Talk of revolution in whatever ideologies, talk of human rights in whichever form of violations, talk of the voices of the people in whatever lingo, talk of anything and face the truth of truths of what, how and why Manipur failed to heal from its dreadful disease. We can only shed tears and cry in pain inconsolably, at our own chopped-off arms.

Do you know why? Do you know the reason? Do you know the root of the disease? Who do you think it is? It's you and me and the society and the people. We failed in our responsibilities to shoulder the responsibility that is entrusted unto us. Manipur will never heal and breathe clean air unless we identify that and blame our very mistakes to hold ourselves responsible for the pitiable situation we dutifully made out of Manipur.

Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA)

This act, even by its name, says it all. The name itself signifies something that is extra-ordinarily entrusted with extra-ordinary power. As we all know by now, with its many antagonists and propagandas, it is that power entrusted upon the 'state' armed forces to enforce human rights abuses legally against those who are not inside the boundary of its enforcement. This is one such act that legally destabilise the core of a country, and as such should be reviewed and abolished in the larger interest of the common people who faced the brunt of its unique power.

At the same time as we opposed such a draconian law of the 'state' forces, we need to comprehend, acknowledge and also voice our concern on the impending powers that the 'non-state' actors—supposedly revolutionary groups—have control of our lives. It is true; in a way that the AFSPA is a total failure as far as fighting the revolutionary groups is concerned. It failed to check the atrocities of the supposedly revolutionary groups' acts of terror against the common people.

The act failed to protect the civilians. The protection that it supposed to provide is itself an issue that is also worth focusing. Is it really an act that protects the civilians? Rather than that, it unprotects them instead. If that is so, the viability of the Act is questionable. Was it or was not it, is also the simple question that can be posed to this Act. It also failed in its implementation as a tool for a solution to fight armed rebel groups. It failed miserably and thereby it became an 'act' for terror itself.

It seems the AFSPA issue is also being distracted for those supposedly armed revolutionaries to smile in earnest as it ought to touch the issue of their secession movements. This issue that the general masses should involved themselves first of all is not on when it was passed and put into force. The issue should be in those words and clauses that the Act put together to entrust an overwhelming power to those of its enforcers.

Innocent civilians suffer, and will continue to suffer in the hands of both the 'official' and 'unofficial' armed groups. If that is so, will the repealing of the AFSPA help in reducing the sufferings of the people? It will not.

Unless, the supposedly revolutionary groups repeal their own 'AFSPA', the people will continue to face the wrath. It is inescapable. How far will these 'unofficial' groups compromise on their increasing impending power, if at all, the AFSPA, is repealed? Will the people become the ultimate power holder?

Will not these revolutionaries become the de facto power who can dictate not only our lives but also our social, but also our culture, language, etc? We have faced it. I guess we are not that blind, and we have seen their gun-welding powers. Today we acknowledged their power by the silent culture we profusely obey without blinking an eye. Do we simply ignore that fact and give them more sayings in our lives?

These supposedly armed revolutionary groups dictate the whole of our live today because we give them their chances by our weakness. They decide how we dress, what we read, what we speak and what not to speak, who we elect as our representatives, how much we 'contribute' for their 'revolutionary' causes, what and what not we can eat, and the list goes on.

We are learned on the 'state' atrocities against the people. Do we have the courage to be the same learned ones and recognize the atrocities of these 'non-state' groups who destroy the fabric of our society and people by the power the hold and dictates upon us? Is it not that we are opting to be mute spectators to such a draconian rule?

My perceptive here is that if we dare not question the inhumane actions of these supposedly revolutionary groups now, we will never succeed in our struggle to repeal the AFSPA. It is an impossible and unsustainable venture. The struggle against AFSPA would never succeed if, at one hand, we endorse the atrocities of the 'non-state' groups and shout our lungs out against the 'state' actors while we keep mum on the others' act of terror upon our lives. This, itself, is questionable and unacceptable. We will only become the Angels of our own Death.

The killings and torturing of innocent people, raping and molesting of women, planting of IEDs and landmines in public, village and forest frequented by villagers, looting of property, demand notes, stern warning notes, what-to and what-not-to notes, summon notes, etc., will not stop with the repealing of the AFSPA either.

This unwritten act of the revolutionaries is unquestionable. Their law is final and there can never be any proceedings, legal or otherwise, against them and their acts. There is no ground for such. Raising a voice or finger against their indisputable actions would mean punishment and death. And as always, caught between the crossfire of both the state as well as non-state armed groups, innocent people like you and me continue to be psychologically and physically threatened, abused and tortured.

The double-standard approach by those who are against AFPSA is questionable. Why go against just one, and not both? Why the silence over the same atrocities perpetuated by 'non-state' actors? It is understandable if this entire struggle against the draconian law—AFPSA—is all about empowering the revolutionary groups.

If that is the goal that we already set, then so be it. Let us win. And then prepare ourselves for the next stage of the impossible. And it is an open secret that civil society organisations in Manipur are aligned with one or the other such revolutionary groups, one way or the other. Does those aligned questioned the revolutionary groups when the question of human rights abuse committed by the armed non-state actors arises? If that already silenced question fails to be awakened, it's a doom for all.

Save Sharmila Propaganda

Irom Chanu Sharmila, who by her sheer power and conviction, has been fasting for six years continuously is really a woman of substance. She is one unique human being, who steadfastly holds the dignity of Manipur by her act to fast unto death unless and until the AFPSA is repealed. One can only be amazed by her as one tries to be in her shoes. I often asked myself, how a person could carry on for so long!? And I would conclude—she is one hell of a human! I know I will not be able to stand even for a day, forced or unforced.

And then there are those 'by' her sides who do not understand 'her' act. Who care not to understand the simple reasons why she is doing what she is doing. These ignorant and arrogant people call and put her deeds as her 'own'—terming it as a Fight of Sharmila against India's AFPSA. Yet again, we find ourselves as detractors of the main issue. We tend to because we do not understand and because we are some confused cowards and traitors. We give it the name—Save Sharmila Propaganda.

What would she say to that? Would she really want her life to be saved? Has anybody ever asked her? As a human being, of course, like you and me, she would want to live her life in peace and serenity, undisturbed by draconian laws such as the AFSPA. But would she prefer to term the propaganda against the AFSPA, merely as 'her' personal struggle? As I asked that myself, I realize she would never want it to be that that to be. Under that circumstance, the move is a disgrace to her fight against the AFPSA.

This is not her personal fight. Why is it that those 'besides' her put it that way? It's demeaning, and a dirty politics of none other than those who wanted to be recognised in her own struggle—to give themselves names to be recognised with by deliberately taking advantage of Sharmila. They are hijackers of genuine issues for personal issues. What shameless filthy lots. They are the silent Angels of Death to the cause and struggle against AFPSA. It is an insult to her and the protest against AFSPA.

The propaganda should never have become Save Sharmila propaganda. It is not about saving Sharmila's life. It is about saving the life of Manipur. Is it that we are concerned only for the life of Sharmila and not of Manipur and its people? This is injustice to the cause of Sharmila and her self-struggle and for all those who are living the life of zombies in Manipur.

Conclusion

The need of Manipur today, not only on the AFSPA issue, is a new form of a collective social reconstruction that challenges to defy and condemn both the atrocities of the state and non-state actors. Unless that is brought about, we indeed do have a bleak future to look forward to—a total disorder of state as well as social mechanism, which will ultimately lead to the breaking apart of 'Manipur'. The silence of men give rises to evil. When evil ascent to the throne…

Elf Hmar writes regularly to e-pao.net . The writer can be contacted at [email protected] . This article was webcasted on November 14th, 2006.

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