Muivah and rest of Manipur

By:- Heigrujam Nabashyam *

Muivah .... Mui-bia..... Mui-pho-bia , it is a change; and it is happening.

"You cannot treat Muivah just like another rebel leader. He is a pucca politician .... I know him for the last seven-eight years. I met him on quite a few occasions (in Asia and Europe). Many times I tried to provoke him, but he won't be provoked; he behaved like a diplomat." This was a comment of a Delhi-based Editor of a national daily on Thuingaleng Muivah, the General Secretary of the NSCN(IM), back in 2005.

My meeting with the editor – which ran for almost an hour although I was given 30 minutes – had to do with his apparent inclination to Muivah and his brain-child – the Nagalim reflected in his columns then, in connection with the talks between the government of India and the NSCN(IM). And my contention was he, the editor needed to understand the total gamut of the issue in relation to Muivah's claim.

"You cannot blame the journalists", he shot back, as expected from someone who is true to his profession. "Meitei do not speak; if you want me to tell your stories, you must speak. I spoke to most of your chief ministers – (he took few names of chief ministers) – but …... and I couldn't get anything from them". To prove his point he offered to do justice for the "Meiteis point of view".

And one of his senior correspondent who latter joined us offered to talk to "Sanayaima" of the UNLF anywhere in Asia or Europe to balance Muivah's claim. However, that was never materialized as no response came from UNLF despite messages sent through media persons – certainly not a fault of the journalists !

Such similar opinions was also sounded by other media persons, including a senior journalist who then happened to be the chief of Delhi Bureau of a popular weekly magazine, "Meiteis need to speak up (so that the national media would understand their point of view); at the most the Meiteis would once in a while, hold a press conference (in Delhi) and straight away start criticizing the government (of India), instead of putting your points in a logical manner".

Such opinion of journalists shows that there is some deficiency with those who are at the forefront for Manipur vis-à-vis Nagalim. In fact a proper media management is required to check propaganda which is harmful to Manipur.

The recent talk of Muivah to Nishit Dholabhai, of The Telegraph which was carried on its May 8, 2010 edition did not lie what the editor told me five years ago. Muivah put across his Nagalim in no uncertain term unlike our leaders confused and intemperate expressions. This has shamed those who love Manipur, for – one, it shows those who stand for Manipur to be irrational, asinine and impervious to reasons; two, it equates Muivah with Manipur, insulting and belittling the intelligence of the public and the spirit and wisdom of 2000 years of history.

No government in its sane mind would ever incite the public. No government would never push the panic button unless and absolutely unless the state or the nation is faced with a grave danger like a natural calamity say a Sunami or an earthquake or a foreign invasion or a dangerous virus like SARS and birth flu, etc. or an invasion from a different planet – a star war, etc. And now, perhaps in the harangue and the melee Manipur has been forgotten.

The home coming of Muivah or even a Genghis Khan making a visit to the 2000 years old Manipur should never have caused such an alarm to the patriotic leaders of Manipur. If we are so afraid and so excited of a visit of a Muivah or a Genghis Khan how would we be able to have a goodnight sleep and claim to have lived for 2000 years ?

Are not we the sons and daughters of those brave men and women who could absorb and overcome the challenges and difficulties throughout the history which were a thousand time difficult than what it is today ?

Are we not courageous and wise enough to stop this frenzy, set aside all politics and tell the SPF leader – shame on you ! This would only save us from becoming a laughing stock. Let us not be swayed by emotions and false alarm. Instead let us face the difficulties with a cool mind of a brave heart. A war of nerves cannot be won by being panicky; rather we should have nerves of steel.

And to be true Th. Muivah the Ato Kilonser must appreciate and acknowledge the invaluable service rendered by O. Ibobi Singh the Chief Minister of Manipur by giving the much needed boost to Nagalim first, in 2005 – remember the 52 days economic blockade which had promoted Nagalim, "the dream of a Greater Nagaland (Nagalim) is coming into a reality" was the message from NDTV, courtesy one Ajai Sukhla, a correspondent standing on the NH 39 at Senapati, Manipur giving the message to the world at the high noon of the blockade, while O. Ibobi Singh observed a solemn silence during those 52 days ; and second, the present impasse which has induced the different groups to close ranks and rallied behind him on the pretext of a threat or a war according to CCNCS – to the Nagas.

However for the government there is absolutely no need of a chief minister to act like a medieval tribal chief. A chief minister is the first statesman of the state who should be able to see every section of the public detached from unnecessary emotion and sentiments. It would be in the best of interest of Manipur if the SPF leader admits in public that he has misled the people by pushing the panic button and gracefully resign to save the honour of the 2000 years old history of Manipur.